Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — South America

Self-employed in South America in 2025 — 35.9%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3 pp.

2025 35.9% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 39.1%1992
Period minimum 35.2%2014

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — South America, 1991–202535363738394019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 38.9%1992: 39.1%1993: 39.1%1994: 39%1995: 38.9%1996: 38.3%1997: 38.3%1998: 38.7%1999: 39.1%2000: 39%2001: 38.8%2002: 38.9%2003: 38.6%2004: 38.4%2005: 38%2006: 37.5%2007: 36.6%2008: 36.5%2009: 36.5%2010: 36.2%2011: 35.8%2012: 35.4%2013: 35.3%2014: 35.2%2015: 35.8%2016: 36.3%2017: 36.8%2018: 37.3%2019: 37.4%2020: 38%2021: 38.3%2022: 37.3%2023: 36.6%2024: 36.1%2025: 35.9%
Change over the period: −3 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South America 35.9%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.9 −0.1 pp
2024 36.1 −0.5 pp
2023 36.6 −0.8 pp
2022 37.3 −0.9 pp
2021 38.3 +0.3 pp
2020 38 +0.6 pp
2019 37.4 +0.1 pp
2018 37.3 +0.4 pp
2017 36.8 +0.6 pp
2016 36.3 +0.5 pp
2015 35.8 +0.6 pp
2014 35.2 −0.1 pp
2013 35.3 −0.1 pp
2012 35.4 −0.4 pp
2011 35.8 −0.4 pp
2010 36.2 −0.4 pp
2009 36.5 +0 pp
2008 36.5 −0.1 pp
2007 36.6 −0.9 pp
2006 37.5 −0.5 pp
2005 38 −0.4 pp
2004 38.4 −0.2 pp
2003 38.6 −0.3 pp
2002 38.9 +0.1 pp
2001 38.8 −0.2 pp
2000 39 −0.1 pp
1999 39.1 +0.3 pp
1998 38.7 +0.4 pp
1997 38.3 +0 pp
1996 38.3 −0.6 pp
1995 38.9 −0.1 pp
1994 39 −0.1 pp
1993 39.1 −0 pp
1992 39.1 +0.2 pp
1991 38.9

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.