Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — New Zealand

Self-employed in New Zealand in 2025 — 18.4%. Ranked 125 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 5 pp.

2025 18.4% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 125of 182
Period maximum 23.7%1993
Period minimum 18.4%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — New Zealand, 1991–20251820222419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 23.4%1992: 23.7%1993: 23.7%1994: 23.7%1995: 23.6%1996: 23.4%1997: 23.3%1998: 23.2%1999: 23%2000: 22.7%2001: 22.5%2002: 22.2%2003: 22%2004: 21.7%2005: 21.3%2006: 21%2007: 20.7%2008: 20.6%2009: 20.5%2010: 20.5%2011: 20.5%2012: 20.5%2013: 20.4%2014: 20.4%2015: 20.3%2016: 20.1%2017: 20%2018: 19.7%2019: 19.5%2020: 19.6%2021: 19.4%2022: 19.1%2023: 18.8%2024: 18.6%2025: 18.4%
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: New Zealand

New Zealand 18.4%
World 46.4%
Australia and New Zealand computed 16.5%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — New Zealand, by year New Zealand All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.4 −0.2 pp
2024 18.6 −0.2 pp
2023 18.8 −0.2 pp
2022 19.1 −0.3 pp
2021 19.4 −0.2 pp
2020 19.6 +0.1 pp
2019 19.5 −0.3 pp
2018 19.7 −0.2 pp
2017 20 −0.2 pp
2016 20.1 −0.1 pp
2015 20.3 −0.1 pp
2014 20.4 −0.1 pp
2013 20.4 −0.1 pp
2012 20.5 −0 pp
2011 20.5 +0 pp
2010 20.5 −0 pp
2009 20.5 −0.1 pp
2008 20.6 −0.2 pp
2007 20.7 −0.3 pp
2006 21 −0.3 pp
2005 21.3 −0.3 pp
2004 21.7 −0.3 pp
2003 22 −0.3 pp
2002 22.2 −0.2 pp
2001 22.5 −0.2 pp
2000 22.7 −0.2 pp
1999 23 −0.2 pp
1998 23.2 −0.1 pp
1997 23.3 −0.1 pp
1996 23.4 −0.2 pp
1995 23.6 −0.1 pp
1994 23.7 −0 pp
1993 23.7 +0.1 pp
1992 23.7 +0.3 pp
1991 23.4

Australia and New Zealand, 2025

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

NZ New Zealand 18.4 AU Australia 16.1

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.