Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Hong Kong

Vulnerable employment in Hong Kong in 2025 — 5.76%. Ranked 16 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.79 pp.

2025 5.76% −0.08 pp vs 2024
World rank 16of 182
Period maximum 7.01%2002
Period minimum 4.14%1997

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Hong Kong, 1991–20254567819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 4.97%1992: 4.79%1993: 4.64%1994: 4.46%1995: 4.57%1996: 4.46%1997: 4.14%1998: 4.35%1999: 4.9%2000: 4.84%2001: 6.02%2002: 7.01%2003: 6.86%2004: 6.9%2005: 6.89%2006: 6.96%2007: 6.36%2008: 6.6%2009: 6.59%2010: 6.42%2011: 6.65%2012: 6.97%2013: 6.91%2014: 6.19%2015: 5.99%2016: 5.91%2017: 5.89%2018: 5.99%2019: 6.01%2020: 6.04%2021: 6.16%2022: 6.21%2023: 6.19%2024: 5.84%2025: 5.76%
Change over the period: +0.79 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Hong Kong 5.76%
World 42.38%
Eastern Asia computed 31.19%
High-income countries computed 7.92%
Vulnerable employment — Hong Kong, by year Hong Kong All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 5.76 −0.08 pp
2024 5.84 −0.34 pp
2023 6.19 −0.02 pp
2022 6.21 +0.05 pp
2021 6.16 +0.12 pp
2020 6.04 +0.03 pp
2019 6.01 +0.01 pp
2018 5.99 +0.11 pp
2017 5.89 −0.02 pp
2016 5.91 −0.09 pp
2015 5.99 −0.19 pp
2014 6.19 −0.72 pp
2013 6.91 −0.06 pp
2012 6.97 +0.32 pp
2011 6.65 +0.23 pp
2010 6.42 −0.17 pp
2009 6.59 −0.01 pp
2008 6.6 +0.24 pp
2007 6.36 −0.61 pp
2006 6.96 +0.08 pp
2005 6.89 −0.01 pp
2004 6.9 +0.04 pp
2003 6.86 −0.15 pp
2002 7.01 +0.99 pp
2001 6.02 +1.18 pp
2000 4.84 −0.06 pp
1999 4.9 +0.55 pp
1998 4.35 +0.2 pp
1997 4.14 −0.32 pp
1996 4.46 −0.11 pp
1995 4.57 +0.11 pp
1994 4.46 −0.18 pp
1993 4.64 −0.15 pp
1992 4.79 −0.18 pp
1991 4.97

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.