Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — World

Self-employed in the world in 2025 — 46.4%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 6 pp.

2025 46.4% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 52.4%1992
Period minimum 46.2%2019

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — World, 1991–2025464850525419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 52.4%1992: 52.4%1993: 52.4%1994: 52.3%1995: 52.3%1996: 52.1%1997: 51.9%1998: 51.9%1999: 51.8%2000: 51.6%2001: 51.3%2002: 51.1%2003: 51%2004: 50.7%2005: 50.2%2006: 49.8%2007: 49.4%2008: 49%2009: 49%2010: 48.7%2011: 48.3%2012: 47.8%2013: 47.6%2014: 47.2%2015: 46.9%2016: 46.6%2017: 46.4%2018: 46.3%2019: 46.2%2020: 46.7%2021: 46.6%2022: 46.7%2023: 46.6%2024: 46.5%2025: 46.4%
Change over the period: −6 pp Annual average: -0.18 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

World 46.4%
World 46.4%
Self-employed — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 46.4 −0.1 pp
2024 46.5 −0.2 pp
2023 46.6 −0.1 pp
2022 46.7 +0.1 pp
2021 46.6 −0.1 pp
2020 46.7 +0.5 pp
2019 46.2 −0.1 pp
2018 46.3 −0.2 pp
2017 46.4 −0.2 pp
2016 46.6 −0.2 pp
2015 46.9 −0.4 pp
2014 47.2 −0.3 pp
2013 47.6 −0.2 pp
2012 47.8 −0.5 pp
2011 48.3 −0.5 pp
2010 48.7 −0.3 pp
2009 49 −0 pp
2008 49 −0.4 pp
2007 49.4 −0.4 pp
2006 49.8 −0.5 pp
2005 50.2 −0.4 pp
2004 50.7 −0.4 pp
2003 51 −0.1 pp
2002 51.1 −0.2 pp
2001 51.3 −0.3 pp
2000 51.6 −0.2 pp
1999 51.8 −0.2 pp
1998 51.9 −0 pp
1997 51.9 −0.2 pp
1996 52.1 −0.2 pp
1995 52.3 −0.1 pp
1994 52.3 −0 pp
1993 52.4 −0 pp
1992 52.4 +0 pp
1991 52.4

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.