World—Self-Employed (% of total)
Category: LaborSource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #63 of 188Updated April 2026
Latest Value
46.4%
2025
YoY Change
-0.1%
2024 → 2025
Global Rank
#63
of 188 countries
Maximum
51.6%
2000
Minimum
46.2%
2019
CAGR
-0.4%
26 years
Last
46.4%
Previous
46.5%
Highest
51.6%
Lowest
46.2%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
World's self-employed (% of total) was 46.4% in 2025, ranking #63 out of 188 countries. This represents a -0.1% change from 2024. Over the past 26 years, the highest recorded value was 51.6% (2000) and the lowest was 46.2% (2019). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46.4% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 46.5% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 46.6% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 46.8% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 46.6% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 46.7% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 46.2% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 46.3% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 46.4% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 46.6% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 46.9% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 47.2% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 47.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 47.8% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 48.3% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 48.7% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 49.0% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 49.0% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 49.4% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 49.8% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 50.2% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 50.7% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 51.0% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 51.1% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 51.3% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 51.6% |
Top Countries — Self-Employed (% of total)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad | 91.6% | 2025 |
| 2 | Niger | 89.5% | 2025 |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 88.8% | 2025 |
| 4 | Madagascar | 88.3% | 2025 |
| 5 | Nigeria | 86.2% | 2025 |
| 6 | Central African Republic | 85.4% | 2025 |
| 7 | Tanzania | 85.3% | 2025 |
| 8 | Mozambique | 85.3% | 2025 |
| 9 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 85.1% | 2025 |
| 10 | Burundi | 84.9% | 2025 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Self-Employed (% of total) — World Bank World Development Indicators.
Methodology
Data compiled by ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 17, 2026.