Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Australia and New Zealand

Self-employed in Australia and New Zealand in 2025 — 16.5%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 5.7 pp.

2025 16.5% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 22.3%1993
Period minimum 16.5%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Australia and New Zealand, 1991–2025161820222419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 22.2%1992: 22.2%1993: 22.3%1994: 22.1%1995: 22%1996: 21.8%1997: 21.7%1998: 21.4%1999: 21.3%2000: 21%2001: 20.8%2002: 20.5%2003: 19.6%2004: 20.1%2005: 19.3%2006: 19.1%2007: 17.6%2008: 17.2%2009: 17.9%2010: 17.7%2011: 18.1%2012: 17.3%2013: 17.4%2014: 17.2%2015: 17.2%2016: 17.5%2017: 17.4%2018: 17.2%2019: 17.3%2020: 17.2%2021: 17.2%2022: 17%2023: 16.8%2024: 16.6%2025: 16.5%
Change over the period: −5.7 pp Annual average: -0.17 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand 16.5%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — Australia and New Zealand, by year Australia and New Zealand All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16.5 −0.1 pp
2024 16.6 −0.1 pp
2023 16.8 −0.2 pp
2022 17 −0.3 pp
2021 17.2 +0 pp
2020 17.2 −0.1 pp
2019 17.3 +0.1 pp
2018 17.2 −0.3 pp
2017 17.4 −0.1 pp
2016 17.5 +0.3 pp
2015 17.2 −0 pp
2014 17.2 −0.2 pp
2013 17.4 +0.1 pp
2012 17.3 −0.8 pp
2011 18.1 +0.3 pp
2010 17.7 −0.2 pp
2009 17.9 +0.7 pp
2008 17.2 −0.5 pp
2007 17.6 −1.5 pp
2006 19.1 −0.1 pp
2005 19.3 −0.8 pp
2004 20.1 +0.5 pp
2003 19.6 −1 pp
2002 20.5 −0.2 pp
2001 20.8 −0.3 pp
2000 21 −0.2 pp
1999 21.3 −0.2 pp
1998 21.4 −0.2 pp
1997 21.7 −0.2 pp
1996 21.8 −0.1 pp
1995 22 −0.2 pp
1994 22.1 −0.1 pp
1993 22.3 +0 pp
1992 22.2 +0.1 pp
1991 22.2

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.