Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Iraq

Self-employed in Iraq in 2025 — 31.7%. Ranked 92 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 6.2 pp.

2025 31.7% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 92of 182
Period maximum 38.3%1996
Period minimum 28.5%2013

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Iraq, 1991–202527.53032.53537.54019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 37.9%1992: 37.9%1993: 38%1994: 38.1%1995: 38.2%1996: 38.3%1997: 38%1998: 37.4%1999: 36.6%2000: 35.9%2001: 35.2%2002: 35%2003: 34.9%2004: 35%2005: 35%2006: 34.9%2007: 34.8%2008: 33.8%2009: 32.9%2010: 32%2011: 31%2012: 29.9%2013: 28.5%2014: 31.7%2015: 31.9%2016: 31.2%2017: 30.1%2018: 29.8%2019: 31%2020: 31.4%2021: 31.4%2022: 31.5%2023: 31.6%2024: 31.6%2025: 31.7%
Change over the period: −6.2 pp Annual average: -0.18 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iraq 31.7%
World 46.4%
Western Asia computed 25%
Self-employed — Iraq, by year Iraq All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 31.7 +0.1 pp
2024 31.6 +0 pp
2023 31.6 +0 pp
2022 31.5 +0.1 pp
2021 31.4 +0.1 pp
2020 31.4 +0.4 pp
2019 31 +1.3 pp
2018 29.8 −0.4 pp
2017 30.1 −1.1 pp
2016 31.2 −0.7 pp
2015 31.9 +0.2 pp
2014 31.7 +3.1 pp
2013 28.5 −1.3 pp
2012 29.9 −1.1 pp
2011 31 −1 pp
2010 32 −1 pp
2009 32.9 −0.9 pp
2008 33.8 −0.9 pp
2007 34.8 −0.2 pp
2006 34.9 −0.1 pp
2005 35 +0 pp
2004 35 +0 pp
2003 34.9 −0.1 pp
2002 35 −0.2 pp
2001 35.2 −0.6 pp
2000 35.9 −0.8 pp
1999 36.6 −0.7 pp
1998 37.4 −0.7 pp
1997 38 −0.2 pp
1996 38.3 +0 pp
1995 38.2 +0.1 pp
1994 38.1 +0.1 pp
1993 38 +0.1 pp
1992 37.9 +0.1 pp
1991 37.9

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.