Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — North America

Self-employed in North America in 2025 — 6.8%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.2 pp.

2025 6.8% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 10.1%1991
Period minimum 6.8%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — North America, 1991–20256789101119911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.1%1992: 9.8%1993: 10%1994: 9.8%1995: 9.6%1996: 9.6%1997: 9.5%1998: 9.2%1999: 9%2000: 8.8%2001: 8.6%2002: 8.5%2003: 8.8%2004: 8.8%2005: 8.7%2006: 8.6%2007: 8.5%2008: 8.3%2009: 8.4%2010: 8.4%2011: 8.1%2012: 8.1%2013: 7.9%2014: 7.8%2015: 7.8%2016: 7.7%2017: 7.6%2018: 7.6%2019: 7.4%2020: 7.3%2021: 7.4%2022: 7.1%2023: 6.9%2024: 7%2025: 6.8%
Change over the period: −3.2 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North America 6.8%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.8 −0.1 pp
2024 7 +0.1 pp
2023 6.9 −0.2 pp
2022 7.1 −0.3 pp
2021 7.4 +0.1 pp
2020 7.3 −0.2 pp
2019 7.4 −0.2 pp
2018 7.6 +0.1 pp
2017 7.6 −0.1 pp
2016 7.7 −0.1 pp
2015 7.8 −0 pp
2014 7.8 −0.2 pp
2013 7.9 −0.1 pp
2012 8.1 −0.1 pp
2011 8.1 −0.2 pp
2010 8.4 −0.1 pp
2009 8.4 +0.1 pp
2008 8.3 −0.2 pp
2007 8.5 −0.2 pp
2006 8.6 −0.1 pp
2005 8.7 −0.1 pp
2004 8.8 +0 pp
2003 8.8 +0.2 pp
2002 8.5 −0.1 pp
2001 8.6 −0.2 pp
2000 8.8 −0.2 pp
1999 9 −0.3 pp
1998 9.2 −0.3 pp
1997 9.5 −0.1 pp
1996 9.6 −0.1 pp
1995 9.6 −0.2 pp
1994 9.8 −0.1 pp
1993 10 +0.2 pp
1992 9.8 −0.3 pp
1991 10.1

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.