Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Lower-middle-income countries

Vulnerable employment in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 62.75%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 9.95 pp.

2025 62.75% −0.34 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 72.7%1991
Period minimum 62.75%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Lower-middle-income countries, 1991–202562.56567.57072.57519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 72.7%1992: 72.54%1993: 72.46%1994: 72.27%1995: 72.19%1996: 72.05%1997: 71.77%1998: 71.65%1999: 71.57%2000: 71.4%2001: 71.16%2002: 70.95%2003: 70.71%2004: 70.37%2005: 70.01%2006: 69.68%2007: 69.35%2008: 69.1%2009: 68.66%2010: 68.31%2011: 67.45%2012: 66.56%2013: 66.28%2014: 65.82%2015: 65.19%2016: 64.63%2017: 64.17%2018: 63.55%2019: 63.4%2020: 63.74%2021: 63.46%2022: 63.89%2023: 63.4%2024: 63.09%2025: 62.75%
Change over the period: −9.95 pp Annual average: -0.29 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Lower-middle-income countries 62.75%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 62.75 −0.34 pp
2024 63.09 −0.31 pp
2023 63.4 −0.49 pp
2022 63.89 +0.43 pp
2021 63.46 −0.28 pp
2020 63.74 +0.34 pp
2019 63.4 −0.15 pp
2018 63.55 −0.61 pp
2017 64.17 −0.47 pp
2016 64.63 −0.56 pp
2015 65.19 −0.63 pp
2014 65.82 −0.47 pp
2013 66.28 −0.28 pp
2012 66.56 −0.89 pp
2011 67.45 −0.86 pp
2010 68.31 −0.35 pp
2009 68.66 −0.44 pp
2008 69.1 −0.25 pp
2007 69.35 −0.33 pp
2006 69.68 −0.33 pp
2005 70.01 −0.36 pp
2004 70.37 −0.34 pp
2003 70.71 −0.23 pp
2002 70.95 −0.22 pp
2001 71.16 −0.23 pp
2000 71.4 −0.18 pp
1999 71.57 −0.07 pp
1998 71.65 −0.13 pp
1997 71.77 −0.28 pp
1996 72.05 −0.13 pp
1995 72.19 −0.09 pp
1994 72.27 −0.18 pp
1993 72.46 −0.08 pp
1992 72.54 −0.15 pp
1991 72.7

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.