Countries with the Most Self-Employed Workers (2026) (2023)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2023
High self-employment often reflects large informal economies. {#1} has {#1_value} self-employed workers.
Bahamas, The leads with self-employed (%) of 97.7%.
Qatar ranks #2 at 87.4%.
Tanzania ranks #3 at 85.3%.
Nigeria ranks #4 at 81.5%.
United Arab Emirates ranks #5 at 81.4%.
Top 25 Countries by Self-Employed (%)
| # | Country | Self-Employed (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bahamas, The | 97.7% | 2023 |
| 2 |  Qatar | 87.4% | 2022 |
| 3 |  Tanzania | 85.3% | 2024 |
| 4 |  Nigeria | 81.5% | 2024 |
| 5 |  United Arab Emirates | 81.4% | 2024 |
| 6 |  Cambodia | 80.0% | 2023 |
| 7 |  Niger | 79.6% | 2022 |
| 8 |  Bolivia | 79.6% | 2024 |
| 9 |  Uganda | 79.4% | 2021 |
| 10 |  Mozambique | 78.8% | 2022 |
| 11 |  Benin | 76.3% | 2022 |
| 12 |  Iceland | 76.3% | 2024 |
| 13 |  Angola | 75.4% | 2022 |
| 14 |  Madagascar | 75.0% | 2022 |
| 15 |  Peru | 72.5% | 2024 |
| 16 |  Viet Nam | 72.4% | 2024 |
| 17 |  Moldova | 72.2% | 2024 |
| 18 |  New Zealand | 71.3% | 2024 |
| 19 |  Togo | 70.7% | 2022 |
| 20 |  Oman | 70.6% | 2022 |
| 21 |  San Marino | 70.5% | 2022 |
| 22 |  Paraguay | 70.2% | 2024 |
| 23 |  Burkina Faso | 70.1% | 2024 |
| 24 |  Belarus | 69.6% | 2024 |
| 25 |  Malaysia | 69.3% | 2022 |
Data from 148 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the highest self-employed (%) in 2023?
Bahamas, The has the highest self-employed (%) at 97.7% in 2023.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the top 25 countries out of 148 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the World Bank. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.