Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — South Asia

Vulnerable employment in South Asia in 2025 — 69.74%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 13.57 pp.

2025 69.74% −0.46 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 83.3%1991
Period minimum 69.74%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — South Asia, 1991–2025657075808519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 83.3%1992: 83.09%1993: 82.89%1994: 82.61%1995: 82.35%1996: 82.08%1997: 81.84%1998: 81.65%1999: 81.41%2000: 81.17%2001: 81.07%2002: 80.98%2003: 80.88%2004: 80.66%2005: 80.49%2006: 80.28%2007: 80.03%2008: 79.87%2009: 79.65%2010: 79.38%2011: 78.13%2012: 76.88%2013: 76.35%2014: 75.77%2015: 75.12%2016: 74.44%2017: 73.65%2018: 73.06%2019: 72.56%2020: 72.55%2021: 72.18%2022: 71.74%2023: 70.78%2024: 70.2%2025: 69.74%
Change over the period: −13.57 pp Annual average: -0.4 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Asia 69.74%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 69.74 −0.46 pp
2024 70.2 −0.59 pp
2023 70.78 −0.96 pp
2022 71.74 −0.44 pp
2021 72.18 −0.37 pp
2020 72.55 −0.01 pp
2019 72.56 −0.5 pp
2018 73.06 −0.59 pp
2017 73.65 −0.78 pp
2016 74.44 −0.68 pp
2015 75.12 −0.65 pp
2014 75.77 −0.58 pp
2013 76.35 −0.53 pp
2012 76.88 −1.25 pp
2011 78.13 −1.25 pp
2010 79.38 −0.27 pp
2009 79.65 −0.22 pp
2008 79.87 −0.16 pp
2007 80.03 −0.24 pp
2006 80.28 −0.21 pp
2005 80.49 −0.17 pp
2004 80.66 −0.22 pp
2003 80.88 −0.1 pp
2002 80.98 −0.09 pp
2001 81.07 −0.1 pp
2000 81.17 −0.24 pp
1999 81.41 −0.25 pp
1998 81.65 −0.19 pp
1997 81.84 −0.23 pp
1996 82.08 −0.28 pp
1995 82.35 −0.26 pp
1994 82.61 −0.27 pp
1993 82.89 −0.2 pp
1992 83.09 −0.22 pp
1991 83.3

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.