Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Western Africa

Vulnerable employment in Western Africa in 2025 — 69.4%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 9.22 pp.

2025 69.4% −0.27 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 78.63%1991
Period minimum 69.4%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Western Africa, 1991–202567.57072.57577.58019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 78.63%1992: 78.36%1993: 78.22%1994: 78.07%1995: 77.8%1996: 77.59%1997: 77.4%1998: 77.35%1999: 77.13%2000: 76.86%2001: 76.74%2002: 76.47%2003: 76.05%2004: 75.64%2005: 75.27%2006: 74.94%2007: 74.64%2008: 74.31%2009: 74.05%2010: 73.63%2011: 73.22%2012: 73.02%2013: 72.7%2014: 72.41%2015: 72.17%2016: 71.9%2017: 71.48%2018: 70.94%2019: 70.47%2020: 71.46%2021: 70.62%2022: 70.17%2023: 69.9%2024: 69.67%2025: 69.4%
Change over the period: −9.22 pp Annual average: -0.27 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa

Western Africa 69.4%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 69.4 −0.27 pp
2024 69.67 −0.22 pp
2023 69.9 −0.28 pp
2022 70.17 −0.44 pp
2021 70.62 −0.84 pp
2020 71.46 +0.99 pp
2019 70.47 −0.47 pp
2018 70.94 −0.55 pp
2017 71.48 −0.41 pp
2016 71.9 −0.28 pp
2015 72.17 −0.23 pp
2014 72.41 −0.29 pp
2013 72.7 −0.32 pp
2012 73.02 −0.21 pp
2011 73.22 −0.4 pp
2010 73.63 −0.42 pp
2009 74.05 −0.26 pp
2008 74.31 −0.33 pp
2007 74.64 −0.3 pp
2006 74.94 −0.34 pp
2005 75.27 −0.36 pp
2004 75.64 −0.42 pp
2003 76.05 −0.42 pp
2002 76.47 −0.27 pp
2001 76.74 −0.11 pp
2000 76.86 −0.28 pp
1999 77.13 −0.21 pp
1998 77.35 −0.05 pp
1997 77.4 −0.19 pp
1996 77.59 −0.21 pp
1995 77.8 −0.27 pp
1994 78.07 −0.15 pp
1993 78.22 −0.14 pp
1992 78.36 −0.27 pp
1991 78.63

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.