Compensation of employees (% of expense) by country
Compensation of employees is defined as the total remuneration, in cash or in kind, payable by an enterprise to an employee in return for work done by the latter during the accounting period. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.
Countries reporting
155
Highest
62.0%
Mozambique
Lowest
5.2%
Kazakhstan
Median
25.8%
Years covered
53
1972–2024
Data points
5,286
What the numbers show
Compensation of employees (% of expense) is currently reported for 155 countries. The highest value is 62.0% in Mozambique; the lowest is 5.2% in Kazakhstan.
The median across all reporting countries is 25.8%, and the mean is 26.6%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 12.
Over the past decade 55 countries rose and 98 fell. The largest increase was in Uzbekistan (up 179.3%), and the largest decrease in Mongolia (down 60.3%).
Compensation of employees: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mozambique | 62.0% | 2022 | up 47.2% | rising |
| 2 | Laos | 54.2% | 2022 | up 21.1% | rising |
| 3 | Botswana | 54.0% | 2023 | up 24.3% | rising |
| 4 | Belize | 52.4% | 2017 | up 37.1% | falling |
| 5 | Iraq | 51.9% | 2019 | up 17.1% | flat |
| 6 | Central African Republic | 49.9% | 2021 | up 67.8% | rising |
| 7 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 49.8% | 2017 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 8 | Honduras | 48.6% | 2020 | down 12.7% | rising |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | 48.5% | 2023 | down 6.8% | falling |
| 10 | Burundi | 48.1% | 2021 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 11 | Madagascar | 47.9% | 2023 | down 7.8% | rising |
| 12 | Solomon Islands | 47.3% | 2022 | up 35.4% | rising |
| 13 | Eswatini | 47.0% | 2021 | down 17.0% | flat |
| 14 | Samoa | 46.1% | 2023 | up 15.2% | rising |
| 15 | Vanuatu | 46.1% | 2023 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 16 | Jordan | 46.0% | 2023 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 17 | Gabon | 45.0% | 2021 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 18 | Lesotho | 44.7% | 2022 | up 11.5% | falling |
| 19 | Kyrgyzstan | 43.6% | 2023 | up 9.6% | rising |
| 20 | Mali | 43.3% | 2020 | up 26.2% | rising |
| 21 | Somalia | 42.0% | 2023 | down 22.5% | falling |
| 22 | Paraguay | 41.5% | 2023 | down 29.9% | falling |
| 23 | El Salvador | 40.9% | 2023 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 24 | Burkina Faso | 40.7% | 2023 | down 6.2% | flat |
| 25 | Bhutan | 40.4% | 2020 | up 6.1% | falling |
| 26 | Saint Lucia | 40.4% | 2017 | down 22.8% | falling |
| 27 | Cape Verde | 39.9% | 2020 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 28 | Iran | 39.8% | 2009 | down 26.6% | flat |
| 29 | Bahrain | 39.5% | 2020 | down 10.7% | falling |
| 30 | Angola | 39.3% | 2019 | down 15.9% | rising |
| 31 | Maldives | 39.1% | 2021 | down 38.1% | rising |
| 32 | Cambodia | 38.9% | 2023 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 33 | Namibia | 38.8% | 2023 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 34 | Morocco | 38.5% | 2023 | down 14.6% | falling |
| 35 | Guinea-Bissau | 38.4% | 2023 | down 7.1% | flat |
| 36 | Jamaica | 38.0% | 2020 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 37 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 37.4% | 2022 | up 14.1% | rising |
| 38 | Seychelles | 37.3% | 2008 | up 25.1% | rising |
| 39 | Senegal | 37.1% | 2023 | up 10.2% | rising |
| 40 | Sudan | 36.8% | 2016 | up 18.3% | falling |
| 41 | Zimbabwe | 36.6% | 2018 | down 35.0% | falling |
| 42 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 35.7% | 2020 | down 15.3% | falling |
| 43 | Marshall Islands | 35.3% | 2020 | down 17.8% | falling |
| 44 | Dominican Republic | 35.2% | 2023 | down 7.4% | falling |
| 45 | Tunisia | 35.1% | 2012 | down 13.9% | flat |
| 46 | Philippines | 35.0% | 2023 | down 4.1% | flat |
| 47 | Cameroon | 34.7% | 2021 | down 3.6% | falling |
| 48 | Panama | 34.3% | 2021 | up 14.1% | rising |
| 49 | Afghanistan | 34.0% | 2017 | up 20.3% | rising |
| 50 | Nauru | 33.9% | 2020 | up 104.3% | rising |
| 51 | Tonga | 33.8% | 2023 | down 22.1% | falling |
| 52 | Macao | 33.4% | 2023 | up 9.1% | falling |
| 53 | Malawi | 32.5% | 2022 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 54 | United Arab Emirates | 32.2% | 2023 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 55 | Trinidad and Tobago | 32.1% | 2019 | up 25.7% | falling |
| 56 | Lebanon | 32.1% | 2021 | up 46.4% | rising |
| 57 | Guatemala | 32.0% | 2023 | up 2.9% | falling |
| 58 | Nicaragua | 32.0% | 2023 | down 13.9% | rising |
| 59 | Togo | 31.7% | 2023 | down 7.5% | rising |
| 60 | Kiribati | 31.4% | 2023 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 61 | Niger | 31.3% | 1980 | — | flat |
| 62 | Palau | 31.0% | 2020 | down 12.6% | flat |
| 63 | Malaysia | 29.6% | 2023 | up 1.9% | rising |
| 64 | Ukraine | 28.6% | 2023 | up 146.9% | rising |
| 65 | Ecuador | 28.6% | 2022 | up 7.3% | rising |
| 66 | Ghana | 28.3% | 2022 | down 20.2% | falling |
| 67 | Zambia | 28.0% | 2021 | down 33.5% | falling |
| 68 | Fiji | 27.7% | 2023 | down 14.2% | falling |
| 69 | Cyprus | 27.4% | 2023 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 70 | Egypt | 27.2% | 2015 | down 4.5% | rising |
| 71 | Malta | 26.9% | 2023 | down 12.0% | falling |
| 72 | Costa Rica | 26.8% | 2023 | down 43.7% | falling |
| 73 | Mauritius | 26.6% | 2023 | down 29.5% | falling |
| 74 | Ireland | 26.6% | 2022 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 75 | Micronesia (country) | 26.2% | 2020 | down 27.6% | falling |
| 76 | Bahamas | 25.9% | 2023 | down 41.0% | falling |
| 77 | Congo | 25.9% | 2021 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 78 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 25.8% | 2023 | down 10.4% | falling |
| 79 | Tajikistan | 24.8% | 2023 | — | rising |
| 80 | Barbados | 24.7% | 2016 | down 22.4% | falling |
| 81 | Kuwait | 24.2% | 2006 | down 20.2% | falling |
| 82 | Iceland | 23.8% | 2023 | up 8.7% | falling |
| 83 | San Marino | 23.5% | 2023 | down 22.1% | falling |
| 84 | Cote d'Ivoire | 23.3% | 2023 | down 52.9% | falling |
| 85 | Thailand | 22.6% | 2023 | down 18.9% | falling |
| 86 | Israel | 22.4% | 2023 | down 5.0% | rising |
| 87 | Uruguay | 22.2% | 2023 | down 3.6% | falling |
| 88 | Bolivia | 22.2% | 2007 | down 13.0% | falling |
| 89 | Myanmar | 22.0% | 2019 | up 39.7% | rising |
| 90 | Equatorial Guinea | 21.7% | 2022 | up 77.3% | rising |
| 91 | New Zealand | 21.5% | 2022 | down 9.4% | rising |
| 92 | Uzbekistan | 21.3% | 2023 | up 179.3% | rising |
| 93 | Portugal | 21.1% | 2023 | down 2.2% | falling |
| 94 | Turkey | 20.9% | 2023 | down 13.3% | falling |
| 95 | Albania | 20.5% | 2023 | down 19.8% | rising |
| 96 | Luxembourg | 20.5% | 2023 | up 3.9% | flat |
| 97 | Bangladesh | 20.3% | 2021 | down 6.7% | falling |
| 98 | Chile | 19.9% | 2023 | down 6.3% | falling |
| 99 | Armenia | 19.3% | 2023 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 100 | Latvia | 19.2% | 2023 | up 18.5% | falling |
| 101 | Hungary | 19.1% | 2022 | up 43.9% | rising |
| 102 | Romania | 19.0% | 2022 | up 33.7% | rising |
| 103 | Sri Lanka | 18.9% | 2023 | down 32.3% | rising |
| 104 | Singapore | 18.8% | 2023 | down 36.6% | falling |
| 105 | Greece | 18.4% | 2023 | up 6.0% | falling |
| 106 | Kenya | 18.4% | 2023 | down 48.3% | falling |
| 107 | Bulgaria | 18.0% | 2023 | down 6.7% | rising |
| 108 | France | 17.6% | 2023 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 109 | Tanzania | 17.5% | 2024 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 110 | Uganda | 17.4% | 2023 | down 22.6% | falling |
| 111 | Slovenia | 16.8% | 2023 | up 15.8% | falling |
| 112 | Serbia | 16.7% | 2022 | down 34.1% | falling |
| 113 | Estonia | 16.4% | 2023 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 114 | Slovakia | 16.4% | 2022 | up 21.6% | falling |
| 115 | United Kingdom | 15.8% | 2023 | up 24.3% | flat |
| 116 | Peru | 15.6% | 2021 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 117 | Lithuania | 15.6% | 2023 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 118 | Ethiopia | 14.8% | 2023 | up 58.8% | volatile |
| 119 | Indonesia | 14.8% | 2009 | up 39.1% | falling |
| 120 | East Timor | 14.7% | 2022 | down 10.2% | rising |
| 121 | Norway | 14.7% | 2023 | down 6.9% | rising |
| 122 | Croatia | 14.5% | 2023 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 123 | Georgia | 14.4% | 2023 | down 29.7% | rising |
| 124 | Rwanda | 14.3% | 2023 | down 35.4% | falling |
| 125 | Azerbaijan | 14.2% | 2022 | up 1.4% | rising |
| 126 | South Africa | 14.2% | 2022 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 127 | Nepal | 14.1% | 2021 | down 48.6% | falling |
| 128 | Belarus | 14.1% | 2023 | up 16.4% | rising |
| 129 | Argentina | 12.9% | 2023 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 130 | North Macedonia | 12.4% | 2023 | down 22.6% | falling |
| 131 | Poland | 12.3% | 2023 | down 10.3% | falling |
| 132 | India | 12.1% | 2022 | up 39.8% | falling |
| 133 | Czechia | 12.1% | 2022 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 134 | Russia | 11.9% | 2020 | down 26.2% | falling |
| 135 | Papua New Guinea | 11.2% | 2023 | down 31.2% | falling |
| 136 | Denmark | 11.0% | 2023 | up 7.8% | falling |
| 137 | Italy | 10.9% | 2023 | down 19.6% | falling |
| 138 | Canada | 10.2% | 2023 | down 14.7% | flat |
| 139 | Austria | 10.1% | 2023 | down 3.3% | falling |
| 140 | Mongolia | 9.9% | 2021 | down 60.3% | rising |
| 141 | Colombia | 9.8% | 2023 | up 25.5% | volatile |
| 142 | Australia | 9.5% | 2022 | down 9.9% | rising |
| 143 | Moldova | 9.5% | 2023 | down 20.7% | falling |
| 144 | Mexico | 9.2% | 2023 | down 23.5% | falling |
| 145 | Sweden | 9.2% | 2022 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 146 | South Korea | 8.8% | 2023 | down 13.4% | falling |
| 147 | United States | 8.1% | 2023 | down 19.4% | falling |
| 148 | Netherlands | 7.8% | 2023 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 149 | Finland | 7.1% | 2023 | down 13.7% | falling |
| 150 | Switzerland | 7.0% | 2023 | up 1.1% | falling |
| 151 | Brazil | 6.6% | 2023 | down 28.5% | falling |
| 152 | Spain | 5.9% | 2023 | down 13.4% | volatile |
| 153 | Belgium | 5.9% | 2022 | down 1.1% | falling |
| 154 | Germany | 5.7% | 2022 | down 9.2% | falling |
| 155 | Kazakhstan | 5.2% | 2023 | down 33.9% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Least developed countries: UN classification 39.9%
- Africa Western and Central 37.2%
- IDA only 37.2%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 35.9%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 35.9%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 35.9%
- Pre-demographic dividend 34.7%
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 34.5%
- IDA total 33.0%
- Lower middle income 32.6%
- Caribbean small states 32.1%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 32.0%
About this data
Compensation of employees is defined as the total remuneration, in cash or in kind, payable by an enterprise to an employee in return for work done by the latter during the accounting period. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.