Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Italy

Self-employed in Italy in 2025 — 21.1%. Ranked 121 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 7.3 pp.

2025 21.1% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 121of 182
Period maximum 29.1%1995
Period minimum 21.1%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Italy, 1991–202520222426283019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 28.4%1992: 28.9%1993: 28.5%1994: 28.6%1995: 29.1%1996: 29.1%1997: 28.8%1998: 28.7%1999: 28.3%2000: 28.2%2001: 27.9%2002: 27.4%2003: 27.3%2004: 27.9%2005: 26.7%2006: 26.4%2007: 26.1%2008: 25.5%2009: 25%2010: 25.3%2011: 25%2012: 24.9%2013: 24.8%2014: 24.7%2015: 24.4%2016: 23.9%2017: 23.2%2018: 23%2019: 22.8%2020: 22.6%2021: 21.8%2022: 21.4%2023: 21.3%2024: 21.2%2025: 21.1%
Change over the period: −7.3 pp Annual average: -0.21 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Italy 21.1%
World 46.4%
Southern Europe computed 19.3%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — Italy, by year Italy All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 21.1 −0.1 pp
2024 21.2 −0 pp
2023 21.3 −0.1 pp
2022 21.4 −0.4 pp
2021 21.8 −0.7 pp
2020 22.6 −0.2 pp
2019 22.8 −0.2 pp
2018 23 −0.2 pp
2017 23.2 −0.7 pp
2016 23.9 −0.4 pp
2015 24.4 −0.3 pp
2014 24.7 −0.1 pp
2013 24.8 −0.1 pp
2012 24.9 −0.1 pp
2011 25 −0.2 pp
2010 25.3 +0.3 pp
2009 25 −0.5 pp
2008 25.5 −0.7 pp
2007 26.1 −0.3 pp
2006 26.4 −0.3 pp
2005 26.7 −1.2 pp
2004 27.9 +0.6 pp
2003 27.3 −0.2 pp
2002 27.4 −0.4 pp
2001 27.9 −0.3 pp
2000 28.2 −0.1 pp
1999 28.3 −0.4 pp
1998 28.7 −0.1 pp
1997 28.8 −0.2 pp
1996 29.1 −0 pp
1995 29.1 +0.5 pp
1994 28.6 +0.1 pp
1993 28.5 −0.3 pp
1992 28.9 +0.5 pp
1991 28.4

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.