Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — World

Vulnerable employment in the world in 2025 — 42.38%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 6.42 pp.

2025 42.38% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 48.81%1992
Period minimum 42.34%2019

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — World, 1991–2025424446485019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 48.8%1992: 48.81%1993: 48.79%1994: 48.72%1995: 48.62%1996: 48.46%1997: 48.28%1998: 48.3%1999: 48.11%2000: 47.93%2001: 47.63%2002: 47.44%2003: 47.35%2004: 46.95%2005: 46.52%2006: 46.05%2007: 45.67%2008: 45.29%2009: 45.3%2010: 45.05%2011: 44.58%2012: 44.03%2013: 43.86%2014: 43.51%2015: 43.11%2016: 42.85%2017: 42.62%2018: 42.38%2019: 42.34%2020: 42.89%2021: 42.83%2022: 42.84%2023: 42.65%2024: 42.48%2025: 42.38%
Change over the period: −6.42 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

World 42.38%
World 42.38%
Vulnerable employment — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 42.38 −0.1 pp
2024 42.48 −0.17 pp
2023 42.65 −0.19 pp
2022 42.84 +0.01 pp
2021 42.83 −0.06 pp
2020 42.89 +0.55 pp
2019 42.34 −0.04 pp
2018 42.38 −0.24 pp
2017 42.62 −0.24 pp
2016 42.85 −0.26 pp
2015 43.11 −0.4 pp
2014 43.51 −0.35 pp
2013 43.86 −0.17 pp
2012 44.03 −0.55 pp
2011 44.58 −0.47 pp
2010 45.05 −0.24 pp
2009 45.3 +0 pp
2008 45.29 −0.38 pp
2007 45.67 −0.38 pp
2006 46.05 −0.47 pp
2005 46.52 −0.43 pp
2004 46.95 −0.4 pp
2003 47.35 −0.09 pp
2002 47.44 −0.19 pp
2001 47.63 −0.3 pp
2000 47.93 −0.17 pp
1999 48.11 −0.19 pp
1998 48.3 +0.02 pp
1997 48.28 −0.18 pp
1996 48.46 −0.16 pp
1995 48.62 −0.11 pp
1994 48.72 −0.07 pp
1993 48.79 −0.02 pp
1992 48.81 +0.01 pp
1991 48.8

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.