Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Zambia

Self-employed in Zambia in 2025 — 71.7%. Ranked 29 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 11 pp.

2025 71.7% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 29of 182
Period maximum 85.2%2005
Period minimum 71.7%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Zambia, 1991–2025707580859019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 82.7%1992: 82.9%1993: 83%1994: 83.2%1995: 83.3%1996: 83.4%1997: 83.5%1998: 83.7%1999: 83.8%2000: 83.9%2001: 84.3%2002: 84.5%2003: 84.8%2004: 85%2005: 85.2%2006: 84.9%2007: 84.7%2008: 84.4%2009: 82.9%2010: 81.5%2011: 81.6%2012: 81.9%2013: 79.3%2014: 77%2015: 74.9%2016: 74.6%2017: 74.4%2018: 74.2%2019: 74.4%2020: 75.3%2021: 73.4%2022: 73.9%2023: 72.3%2024: 72.1%2025: 71.7%
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: Zambia

Zambia 71.7%
World 46.4%
Eastern Africa computed 78.1%
Self-employed — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 71.7 −0.3 pp
2024 72.1 −0.2 pp
2023 72.3 −1.6 pp
2022 73.9 +0.5 pp
2021 73.4 −2 pp
2020 75.3 +0.9 pp
2019 74.4 +0.2 pp
2018 74.2 −0.3 pp
2017 74.4 −0.2 pp
2016 74.6 −0.3 pp
2015 74.9 −2.1 pp
2014 77 −2.3 pp
2013 79.3 −2.5 pp
2012 81.9 +0.2 pp
2011 81.6 +0.2 pp
2010 81.5 −1.5 pp
2009 82.9 −1.4 pp
2008 84.4 −0.3 pp
2007 84.7 −0.3 pp
2006 84.9 −0.3 pp
2005 85.2 +0.2 pp
2004 85 +0.2 pp
2003 84.8 +0.2 pp
2002 84.5 +0.3 pp
2001 84.3 +0.3 pp
2000 83.9 +0.1 pp
1999 83.8 +0.1 pp
1998 83.7 +0.2 pp
1997 83.5 +0.1 pp
1996 83.4 +0.1 pp
1995 83.3 +0.2 pp
1994 83.2 +0.2 pp
1993 83 +0.1 pp
1992 82.9 +0.2 pp
1991 82.7

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.