Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Southern Asia

Vulnerable employment in Southern Asia in 2025 — 67.36%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 13.2 pp.

2025 67.36% −0.42 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 80.56%1991
Period minimum 67.36%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Southern Asia, 1991–2025657075808519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 80.56%1992: 80.38%1993: 80.24%1994: 80.03%1995: 79.84%1996: 79.59%1997: 79.15%1998: 79.1%1999: 78.85%2000: 78.59%2001: 78.44%2002: 77.96%2003: 77.83%2004: 77.72%2005: 77.27%2006: 77.04%2007: 76.79%2008: 76.74%2009: 76.42%2010: 76.17%2011: 75.04%2012: 73.9%2013: 73.46%2014: 72.97%2015: 72.36%2016: 71.68%2017: 70.89%2018: 70.26%2019: 70.03%2020: 69.98%2021: 69.45%2022: 69.08%2023: 68.28%2024: 67.78%2025: 67.36%
Change over the period: −13.2 pp Annual average: -0.39 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Asia 67.36%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 67.36 −0.42 pp
2024 67.78 −0.5 pp
2023 68.28 −0.8 pp
2022 69.08 −0.38 pp
2021 69.45 −0.53 pp
2020 69.98 −0.05 pp
2019 70.03 −0.23 pp
2018 70.26 −0.63 pp
2017 70.89 −0.79 pp
2016 71.68 −0.68 pp
2015 72.36 −0.61 pp
2014 72.97 −0.49 pp
2013 73.46 −0.44 pp
2012 73.9 −1.14 pp
2011 75.04 −1.13 pp
2010 76.17 −0.25 pp
2009 76.42 −0.32 pp
2008 76.74 −0.05 pp
2007 76.79 −0.25 pp
2006 77.04 −0.22 pp
2005 77.27 −0.46 pp
2004 77.72 −0.1 pp
2003 77.83 −0.14 pp
2002 77.96 −0.48 pp
2001 78.44 −0.14 pp
2000 78.59 −0.26 pp
1999 78.85 −0.25 pp
1998 79.1 −0.06 pp
1997 79.15 −0.43 pp
1996 79.59 −0.25 pp
1995 79.84 −0.19 pp
1994 80.03 −0.21 pp
1993 80.24 −0.14 pp
1992 80.38 −0.19 pp
1991 80.56

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.