Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Malaysia

Self-employed in Malaysia in 2025 — 25.4%. Ranked 114 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 6.8 pp.

2025 25.4% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 114of 182
Period maximum 32.2%1991
Period minimum 25.4%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Malaysia, 1991–202524262830323419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 32.2%1992: 31.8%1993: 31.4%1994: 31.1%1995: 30.7%1996: 30.3%1997: 30%1998: 29.8%1999: 29.8%2000: 29.5%2001: 29.3%2002: 29.1%2003: 28.9%2004: 28.6%2005: 28.3%2006: 28.1%2007: 27.7%2008: 27.4%2009: 27.4%2010: 27.3%2011: 27.1%2012: 27.1%2013: 26.9%2014: 26.8%2015: 26.6%2016: 26.5%2017: 26.3%2018: 26.1%2019: 26%2020: 26%2021: 25.8%2022: 25.7%2023: 25.6%2024: 25.5%2025: 25.4%
Change over the period: −6.8 pp Annual average: -0.2 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Malaysia 25.4%
World 46.4%
South-Eastern Asia computed 49.7%
Self-employed — Malaysia, by year Malaysia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 25.4 −0.1 pp
2024 25.5 −0.1 pp
2023 25.6 −0.1 pp
2022 25.7 −0.1 pp
2021 25.8 −0.2 pp
2020 26 −0 pp
2019 26 −0.2 pp
2018 26.1 −0.2 pp
2017 26.3 −0.2 pp
2016 26.5 −0.2 pp
2015 26.6 −0.2 pp
2014 26.8 −0.1 pp
2013 26.9 −0.1 pp
2012 27.1 −0.1 pp
2011 27.1 −0.1 pp
2010 27.3 −0.1 pp
2009 27.4 −0.1 pp
2008 27.4 −0.3 pp
2007 27.7 −0.3 pp
2006 28.1 −0.3 pp
2005 28.3 −0.3 pp
2004 28.6 −0.3 pp
2003 28.9 −0.2 pp
2002 29.1 −0.2 pp
2001 29.3 −0.2 pp
2000 29.5 −0.3 pp
1999 29.8 −0.1 pp
1998 29.8 −0.1 pp
1997 30 −0.3 pp
1996 30.3 −0.4 pp
1995 30.7 −0.4 pp
1994 31.1 −0.4 pp
1993 31.4 −0.4 pp
1992 31.8 −0.4 pp
1991 32.2

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.