Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Iran

Self-employed in Iran in 2025 — 42.9%. Ranked 68 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 5 pp.

2025 42.9% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 68of 182
Period maximum 48.8%2005
Period minimum 42.8%2021

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Iran, 1991–2025424446485019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 48%1992: 47.7%1993: 47.6%1994: 47.5%1995: 47.4%1996: 47.3%1997: 47.5%1998: 47.7%1999: 48%2000: 48.1%2001: 48.3%2002: 48.5%2003: 48.5%2004: 48.6%2005: 48.8%2006: 48.4%2007: 48.2%2008: 47%2009: 46.3%2010: 44.8%2011: 43.9%2012: 44.2%2013: 45.2%2014: 44.4%2015: 44.5%2016: 45.2%2017: 45.6%2018: 45.5%2019: 45%2020: 43.7%2021: 42.8%2022: 42.8%2023: 43.4%2024: 43.2%2025: 42.9%
Change over the period: −5 pp Annual average: -0.15 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iran

Iran 42.9%
World 46.4%
Southern Asia computed 70.5%
Self-employed — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 42.9 −0.2 pp
2024 43.2 −0.2 pp
2023 43.4 +0.6 pp
2022 42.8 +0 pp
2021 42.8 −1 pp
2020 43.7 −1.2 pp
2019 45 −0.6 pp
2018 45.5 −0.1 pp
2017 45.6 +0.4 pp
2016 45.2 +0.8 pp
2015 44.5 +0.1 pp
2014 44.4 −0.8 pp
2013 45.2 +1 pp
2012 44.2 +0.3 pp
2011 43.9 −0.9 pp
2010 44.8 −1.5 pp
2009 46.3 −0.6 pp
2008 47 −1.2 pp
2007 48.2 −0.3 pp
2006 48.4 −0.3 pp
2005 48.8 +0.1 pp
2004 48.6 +0.1 pp
2003 48.5 +0.1 pp
2002 48.5 +0.1 pp
2001 48.3 +0.2 pp
2000 48.1 +0.2 pp
1999 48 +0.2 pp
1998 47.7 +0.2 pp
1997 47.5 +0.2 pp
1996 47.3 −0.1 pp
1995 47.4 −0.1 pp
1994 47.5 −0.1 pp
1993 47.6 −0.1 pp
1992 47.7 −0.2 pp
1991 48

Southern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of total employment that is self-employed: employers, own-account workers, members of producers cooperatives and contributing family workers. High values in low-income countries reflect not developed entrepreneurship but the absence of wage jobs and informal work in agriculture and small-scale trade.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.