Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Northern Africa

Self-employed in Northern Africa in 2025 — 29.8%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 11 pp.

2025 29.8% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 40.8%1991
Period minimum 29.8%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Northern Africa, 1991–2025253035404519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 40.8%1992: 40.6%1993: 40.6%1994: 40.3%1995: 40.1%1996: 39.4%1997: 38.7%1998: 38.6%1999: 37.8%2000: 38.2%2001: 37.5%2002: 37.7%2003: 38.2%2004: 38.6%2005: 36.9%2006: 35.9%2007: 36.9%2008: 36.5%2009: 36.2%2010: 35.4%2011: 35.6%2012: 34.8%2013: 35.1%2014: 35.2%2015: 34.5%2016: 34.5%2017: 35.2%2018: 35%2019: 34.1%2020: 33.4%2021: 33%2022: 32.2%2023: 30.3%2024: 30%2025: 29.8%
Change over the period: −11 pp Annual average: -0.32 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Northern Africa 29.8%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — Northern Africa, by year Northern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 29.8 −0.2 pp
2024 30 −0.2 pp
2023 30.3 −2 pp
2022 32.2 −0.7 pp
2021 33 −0.4 pp
2020 33.4 −0.7 pp
2019 34.1 −1 pp
2018 35 −0.2 pp
2017 35.2 +0.7 pp
2016 34.5 +0.1 pp
2015 34.5 −0.7 pp
2014 35.2 +0.1 pp
2013 35.1 +0.3 pp
2012 34.8 −0.8 pp
2011 35.6 +0.2 pp
2010 35.4 −0.8 pp
2009 36.2 −0.3 pp
2008 36.5 −0.4 pp
2007 36.9 +1 pp
2006 35.9 −1 pp
2005 36.9 −1.7 pp
2004 38.6 +0.4 pp
2003 38.2 +0.5 pp
2002 37.7 +0.2 pp
2001 37.5 −0.7 pp
2000 38.2 +0.4 pp
1999 37.8 −0.8 pp
1998 38.6 −0.1 pp
1997 38.7 −0.7 pp
1996 39.4 −0.7 pp
1995 40.1 −0.2 pp
1994 40.3 −0.4 pp
1993 40.6 −0 pp
1992 40.6 −0.2 pp
1991 40.8

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.