Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Southern Africa

Self-employed in Southern Africa in 2025 — 19.2%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.8 pp.

2025 19.2% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 20.1%2006
Period minimum 16.7%2014

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Southern Africa, 1991–202516171819202119911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 20%1992: 20%1993: 20%1994: 19.9%1995: 19.8%1996: 19.7%1997: 19.6%1998: 19.4%1999: 19.2%2000: 19.1%2001: 19.5%2002: 19.4%2003: 19.3%2004: 19.1%2005: 19.8%2006: 20.1%2007: 18.5%2008: 18.3%2009: 18.1%2010: 18.3%2011: 18.2%2012: 18%2013: 17.5%2014: 16.7%2015: 16.9%2016: 17.3%2017: 17.7%2018: 17.9%2019: 18.5%2020: 19%2021: 19.1%2022: 19%2023: 18.4%2024: 19.3%2025: 19.2%
Change over the period: −0.8 pp Annual average: -0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Africa 19.2%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 19.2 −0 pp
2024 19.3 +0.8 pp
2023 18.4 −0.6 pp
2022 19 −0.1 pp
2021 19.1 +0.1 pp
2020 19 +0.4 pp
2019 18.5 +0.6 pp
2018 17.9 +0.2 pp
2017 17.7 +0.4 pp
2016 17.3 +0.4 pp
2015 16.9 +0.2 pp
2014 16.7 −0.8 pp
2013 17.5 −0.5 pp
2012 18 −0.3 pp
2011 18.2 −0 pp
2010 18.3 +0.2 pp
2009 18.1 −0.2 pp
2008 18.3 −0.2 pp
2007 18.5 −1.7 pp
2006 20.1 +0.4 pp
2005 19.8 +0.6 pp
2004 19.1 −0.2 pp
2003 19.3 −0.1 pp
2002 19.4 −0.1 pp
2001 19.5 +0.4 pp
2000 19.1 −0.2 pp
1999 19.2 −0.2 pp
1998 19.4 −0.1 pp
1997 19.6 −0.1 pp
1996 19.7 −0.1 pp
1995 19.8 −0.1 pp
1994 19.9 −0.1 pp
1993 20 −0 pp
1992 20 +0 pp
1991 20

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.