Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Low-income countries

Vulnerable employment in low-income countries in 2025 — 75.71%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.46 pp.

2025 75.71% −0.18 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 76.17%1995
Period minimum 74.74%2022

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Low-income countries, 1991–202574.57575.57676.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 75.25%1992: 75.49%1993: 75.62%1994: 75.94%1995: 76.17%1996: 76.04%1997: 75.91%1998: 75.82%1999: 75.74%2000: 75.73%2001: 75.73%2002: 75.73%2003: 75.74%2004: 75.71%2005: 75.67%2006: 75.51%2007: 75.44%2008: 75.12%2009: 75.17%2010: 75.04%2011: 74.96%2012: 75.18%2013: 75.4%2014: 75.44%2015: 75.53%2016: 75.43%2017: 75.33%2018: 75.19%2019: 75.1%2020: 75.73%2021: 75.03%2022: 74.74%2023: 76.11%2024: 75.89%2025: 75.71%
Change over the period: +0.46 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 75.71%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 75.71 −0.18 pp
2024 75.89 −0.23 pp
2023 76.11 +1.37 pp
2022 74.74 −0.29 pp
2021 75.03 −0.7 pp
2020 75.73 +0.63 pp
2019 75.1 −0.08 pp
2018 75.19 −0.14 pp
2017 75.33 −0.1 pp
2016 75.43 −0.1 pp
2015 75.53 +0.09 pp
2014 75.44 +0.04 pp
2013 75.4 +0.22 pp
2012 75.18 +0.21 pp
2011 74.96 −0.07 pp
2010 75.04 −0.14 pp
2009 75.17 +0.06 pp
2008 75.12 −0.33 pp
2007 75.44 −0.06 pp
2006 75.51 −0.16 pp
2005 75.67 −0.05 pp
2004 75.71 −0.02 pp
2003 75.74 +0.01 pp
2002 75.73 +0 pp
2001 75.73 −0 pp
2000 75.73 −0.01 pp
1999 75.74 −0.08 pp
1998 75.82 −0.1 pp
1997 75.91 −0.13 pp
1996 76.04 −0.13 pp
1995 76.17 +0.23 pp
1994 75.94 +0.32 pp
1993 75.62 +0.14 pp
1992 75.49 +0.23 pp
1991 75.25

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.