Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Jamaica

Self-employed in Jamaica in 2025 — 35.7%. Ranked 85 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 7.8 pp.

2025 35.7% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 85of 182
Period maximum 43.6%1991
Period minimum 35.7%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Jamaica, 1991–202534363840424419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 43.6%1992: 43.3%1993: 41.4%1994: 41.2%1995: 40.1%1996: 40.2%1997: 40.2%1998: 40.6%1999: 40.8%2000: 40.7%2001: 40.3%2002: 38.5%2003: 38.7%2004: 38.7%2005: 37.8%2006: 38.6%2007: 36.7%2008: 38.7%2009: 41.2%2010: 42.2%2011: 40%2012: 40.7%2013: 40.7%2014: 40.5%2015: 40.1%2016: 39.8%2017: 39.4%2018: 39%2019: 37.7%2020: 38.7%2021: 38.4%2022: 37.3%2023: 35.9%2024: 35.8%2025: 35.7%
Change over the period: −7.8 pp Annual average: -0.23 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Jamaica 35.7%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — Jamaica, by year Jamaica All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.7 −0.1 pp
2024 35.8 −0.1 pp
2023 35.9 −1.4 pp
2022 37.3 −1.1 pp
2021 38.4 −0.3 pp
2020 38.7 +1 pp
2019 37.7 −1.3 pp
2018 39 −0.4 pp
2017 39.4 −0.4 pp
2016 39.8 −0.3 pp
2015 40.1 −0.4 pp
2014 40.5 −0.2 pp
2013 40.7 −0 pp
2012 40.7 +0.7 pp
2011 40 −2.2 pp
2010 42.2 +1 pp
2009 41.2 +2.5 pp
2008 38.7 +2 pp
2007 36.7 −1.9 pp
2006 38.6 +0.8 pp
2005 37.8 −1 pp
2004 38.7 −0 pp
2003 38.7 +0.3 pp
2002 38.5 −1.8 pp
2001 40.3 −0.5 pp
2000 40.7 −0 pp
1999 40.8 +0.1 pp
1998 40.6 +0.4 pp
1997 40.2 −0 pp
1996 40.2 +0.1 pp
1995 40.1 −1.1 pp
1994 41.2 −0.2 pp
1993 41.4 −1.9 pp
1992 43.3 −0.3 pp
1991 43.6

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.