Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Sub-Saharan Africa

Vulnerable employment in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 71%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.31 pp.

2025 71% −0.17 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 74.59%1995
Period minimum 70.8%2019

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–202570717273747519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 74.31%1992: 74.35%1993: 74.37%1994: 74.51%1995: 74.59%1996: 74.44%1997: 74.31%1998: 74.25%1999: 74.13%2000: 74.04%2001: 74.03%2002: 73.94%2003: 73.81%2004: 73.65%2005: 73.57%2006: 73.39%2007: 73.16%2008: 72.95%2009: 72.89%2010: 72.77%2011: 72.57%2012: 72.36%2013: 72.09%2014: 71.75%2015: 71.49%2016: 71.38%2017: 71.2%2018: 70.94%2019: 70.8%2020: 71.73%2021: 71.31%2022: 71.01%2023: 71.4%2024: 71.18%2025: 71%
Change over the period: −3.31 pp Annual average: -0.1 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 71%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 71 −0.17 pp
2024 71.18 −0.23 pp
2023 71.4 +0.39 pp
2022 71.01 −0.29 pp
2021 71.31 −0.43 pp
2020 71.73 +0.94 pp
2019 70.8 −0.15 pp
2018 70.94 −0.26 pp
2017 71.2 −0.18 pp
2016 71.38 −0.11 pp
2015 71.49 −0.26 pp
2014 71.75 −0.35 pp
2013 72.09 −0.27 pp
2012 72.36 −0.21 pp
2011 72.57 −0.2 pp
2010 72.77 −0.12 pp
2009 72.89 −0.06 pp
2008 72.95 −0.21 pp
2007 73.16 −0.23 pp
2006 73.39 −0.18 pp
2005 73.57 −0.08 pp
2004 73.65 −0.16 pp
2003 73.81 −0.13 pp
2002 73.94 −0.09 pp
2001 74.03 −0.01 pp
2000 74.04 −0.09 pp
1999 74.13 −0.11 pp
1998 74.25 −0.06 pp
1997 74.31 −0.14 pp
1996 74.44 −0.14 pp
1995 74.59 +0.08 pp
1994 74.51 +0.14 pp
1993 74.37 +0.02 pp
1992 74.35 +0.03 pp
1991 74.31

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.