Employers, total (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) by country
Employers are those workers who, working on their own account or with one or a few partners, hold the type of jobs defined as a "self-employment jobs" i.e. jobs where the remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits derived from the goods and services produced), and, in this capacity, have engaged, on a...
Countries reporting
186
Highest
20.8%
Djibouti
Lowest
0.2%
Moldova
Median
3.4%
Years covered
35
1991–2025
Data points
8,176
What the numbers show
Employers, total (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) is currently reported for 186 countries. The highest value is 20.8% in Djibouti; the lowest is 0.2% in Moldova.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.4%, and the mean is 3.8%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 128.
Over the past decade 106 countries rose and 80 fell. The largest increase was in Armenia (up 716.7%), and the largest decrease in Egypt (down 71.0%).
Employers, total (% of total employment): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Djibouti | 20.8% | 2025 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 2 | Nigeria | 19.7% | 2025 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 3 | East Timor | 16.2% | 2025 | down 6.2% | falling |
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 13.1% | 2025 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 5 | Uzbekistan | 12.1% | 2025 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 6 | Honduras | 10.2% | 2025 | up 25.2% | rising |
| 7 | Angola | 9.6% | 2025 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 8 | Sao Tome and Principe | 9.0% | 2025 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 9 | Lebanon | 9.0% | 2023 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 10 | Tonga | 8.1% | 2025 | down 41.8% | falling |
| 11 | Papua New Guinea | 7.5% | 2025 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 12 | Ghana | 7.5% | 2025 | up 33.7% | rising |
| 13 | Greece | 7.4% | 2025 | up 6.1% | falling |
| 14 | Switzerland | 7.3% | 2025 | up 54.3% | rising |
| 15 | Yemen | 7.1% | 2025 | up 1.8% | flat |
| 16 | Tunisia | 7.0% | 2025 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 17 | Australia | 7.0% | 2025 | up 8.9% | falling |
| 18 | Sudan | 6.9% | 2022 | down 3.6% | flat |
| 19 | Italy | 6.8% | 2025 | down 8.4% | falling |
| 20 | Namibia | 6.6% | 2025 | up 60.6% | rising |
| 21 | Croatia | 6.4% | 2025 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 22 | Somalia | 6.2% | 2025 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 23 | Uganda | 6.1% | 2025 | up 204.5% | volatile |
| 24 | Central African Republic | 6.0% | 2025 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 25 | Lesotho | 5.9% | 2025 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 26 | New Zealand | 5.8% | 2025 | down 4.0% | falling |
| 27 | Guyana | 5.8% | 2025 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 28 | Niger | 5.7% | 2025 | up 271.2% | volatile |
| 29 | South Africa | 5.6% | 2025 | up 8.8% | flat |
| 30 | Cuba | 5.6% | 2025 | up 11.2% | rising |
| 31 | Mexico | 5.5% | 2025 | up 22.3% | flat |
| 32 | Palestine | 5.4% | 2022 | down 15.6% | rising |
| 33 | Nicaragua | 5.4% | 2025 | down 1.8% | falling |
| 34 | Belize | 5.3% | 2025 | down 15.0% | rising |
| 35 | North Korea | 5.3% | 2025 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 36 | Paraguay | 5.2% | 2025 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 37 | Gambia | 5.1% | 2025 | up 100.9% | volatile |
| 38 | Latvia | 5.0% | 2025 | up 14.9% | rising |
| 39 | South Korea | 5.0% | 2025 | down 18.8% | falling |
| 40 | Estonia | 5.0% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 41 | Iceland | 4.9% | 2025 | up 3.1% | falling |
| 42 | Bulgaria | 4.9% | 2025 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 43 | El Salvador | 4.8% | 2025 | up 9.5% | flat |
| 44 | France | 4.8% | 2025 | up 12.0% | flat |
| 45 | Portugal | 4.8% | 2025 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 46 | Saint Lucia | 4.8% | 2025 | down 20.2% | falling |
| 47 | Algeria | 4.6% | 2025 | up 6.6% | falling |
| 48 | Turkey | 4.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | falling |
| 49 | Morocco | 4.5% | 2025 | down 4.2% | rising |
| 50 | Iraq | 4.5% | 2025 | up 23.0% | rising |
| 51 | Eritrea | 4.5% | 2025 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 52 | Trinidad and Tobago | 4.5% | 2025 | down 18.3% | rising |
| 53 | Spain | 4.5% | 2025 | down 7.4% | falling |
| 54 | Equatorial Guinea | 4.4% | 2025 | down 1.1% | rising |
| 55 | Austria | 4.3% | 2025 | up 20.5% | rising |
| 56 | Libya | 4.3% | 2025 | up 1.2% | falling |
| 57 | China | 4.3% | 2025 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 58 | North Macedonia | 4.3% | 2025 | down 1.5% | rising |
| 59 | Albania | 4.2% | 2025 | up 79.8% | rising |
| 60 | Brazil | 4.2% | 2025 | down 1.5% | falling |
| 61 | Cape Verde | 4.2% | 2025 | up 15.1% | flat |
| 62 | Jamaica | 4.2% | 2025 | up 35.2% | rising |
| 63 | Dominican Republic | 4.1% | 2025 | up 26.4% | rising |
| 64 | Mauritania | 4.1% | 2025 | up 23.1% | rising |
| 65 | Suriname | 4.1% | 2025 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 66 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4.0% | 2025 | up 90.3% | rising |
| 67 | Poland | 3.9% | 2025 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 68 | Madagascar | 3.9% | 2025 | up 1.5% | rising |
| 69 | Saudi Arabia | 3.9% | 2025 | up 317.7% | volatile |
| 70 | Peru | 3.8% | 2025 | up 21.5% | falling |
| 71 | Malta | 3.8% | 2025 | down 5.4% | rising |
| 72 | Germany | 3.8% | 2025 | down 16.5% | rising |
| 73 | Hungary | 3.8% | 2025 | up 24.0% | falling |
| 74 | Guam | 3.8% | 2025 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 75 | Turkmenistan | 3.8% | 2025 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 76 | Ireland | 3.7% | 2025 | down 1.2% | rising |
| 77 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3.7% | 2025 | down 12.6% | falling |
| 78 | Bangladesh | 3.7% | 2025 | up 13.9% | volatile |
| 79 | Georgia | 3.7% | 2025 | up 125.6% | rising |
| 80 | Israel | 3.6% | 2025 | down 8.3% | falling |
| 81 | Uruguay | 3.6% | 2025 | down 11.4% | falling |
| 82 | United States Virgin Islands | 3.6% | 2025 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 83 | Bolivia | 3.6% | 2025 | down 17.6% | falling |
| 84 | Syria | 3.6% | 2025 | down 12.6% | falling |
| 85 | United Arab Emirates | 3.6% | 2025 | up 28.0% | rising |
| 86 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 3.6% | 2025 | up 38.4% | rising |
| 87 | Belgium | 3.6% | 2025 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 88 | Malaysia | 3.5% | 2025 | down 1.6% | rising |
| 89 | Macao | 3.4% | 2025 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 90 | French Polynesia | 3.4% | 2025 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 91 | Iran | 3.4% | 2025 | down 4.3% | falling |
| 92 | Singapore | 3.4% | 2025 | down 40.6% | falling |
| 93 | Luxembourg | 3.4% | 2025 | down 11.3% | rising |
| 94 | Indonesia | 3.4% | 2025 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 95 | Netherlands | 3.4% | 2025 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 96 | Sweden | 3.4% | 2025 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 97 | Canada | 3.4% | 2025 | down 25.9% | falling |
| 98 | Jordan | 3.4% | 2025 | down 34.7% | falling |
| 99 | Slovenia | 3.4% | 2025 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 100 | India | 3.3% | 2025 | up 99.5% | rising |
| 101 | Argentina | 3.3% | 2025 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 102 | Tajikistan | 3.3% | 2025 | down 5.8% | falling |
| 103 | Costa Rica | 3.2% | 2025 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 104 | Cambodia | 3.2% | 2025 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 105 | Maldives | 3.1% | 2025 | down 24.6% | falling |
| 106 | Serbia | 3.1% | 2025 | down 17.2% | falling |
| 107 | Venezuela | 3.1% | 2025 | down 10.1% | falling |
| 108 | Slovakia | 3.1% | 2025 | up 2.8% | falling |
| 109 | Finland | 3.1% | 2025 | down 6.5% | rising |
| 110 | Montenegro | 3.1% | 2025 | down 8.6% | rising |
| 111 | Egypt | 3.0% | 2025 | down 71.0% | falling |
| 112 | Chile | 3.0% | 2025 | down 16.1% | falling |
| 113 | New Caledonia | 3.0% | 2025 | up 220.4% | volatile |
| 114 | Guatemala | 2.9% | 2025 | up 6.3% | falling |
| 115 | Mauritius | 2.9% | 2025 | up 61.6% | volatile |
| 116 | Samoa | 2.9% | 2025 | up 1.4% | falling |
| 117 | Sri Lanka | 2.8% | 2025 | down 8.9% | rising |
| 118 | Mongolia | 2.8% | 2025 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 119 | Brunei | 2.8% | 2025 | down 17.4% | falling |
| 120 | Guinea | 2.8% | 2025 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 121 | Sierra Leone | 2.8% | 2025 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 122 | Thailand | 2.7% | 2025 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 123 | Panama | 2.7% | 2025 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 124 | Colombia | 2.7% | 2025 | down 29.6% | flat |
| 125 | Vanuatu | 2.6% | 2025 | up 57.9% | rising |
| 126 | Gabon | 2.6% | 2025 | down 0.9% | rising |
| 127 | Myanmar | 2.6% | 2025 | down 11.0% | flat |
| 128 | Zimbabwe | 2.6% | 2025 | down 9.6% | rising |
| 129 | Philippines | 2.5% | 2025 | down 30.6% | falling |
| 130 | Denmark | 2.5% | 2025 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 131 | Botswana | 2.5% | 2025 | up 0.6% | falling |
| 132 | Puerto Rico | 2.3% | 2025 | up 10.3% | flat |
| 133 | South Sudan | 2.3% | 2023 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 134 | United States | 2.3% | 2025 | down 21.2% | falling |
| 135 | Czechia | 2.2% | 2025 | down 36.9% | falling |
| 136 | Ecuador | 2.2% | 2025 | down 23.6% | falling |
| 137 | Burkina Faso | 2.0% | 2025 | up 0.0% | flat |
| 138 | Ukraine | 2.0% | 2021 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 139 | Vietnam | 1.9% | 2025 | down 32.8% | falling |
| 140 | Hong Kong | 1.9% | 2025 | down 34.1% | falling |
| 141 | Eswatini | 1.8% | 2025 | down 18.3% | falling |
| 142 | Cyprus | 1.8% | 2025 | down 23.0% | falling |
| 143 | Cameroon | 1.7% | 2025 | down 40.6% | falling |
| 144 | Bahrain | 1.7% | 2025 | up 0.5% | falling |
| 145 | Tanzania | 1.7% | 2025 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 146 | Afghanistan | 1.6% | 2025 | up 9.1% | volatile |
| 147 | Mozambique | 1.6% | 2025 | down 31.7% | falling |
| 148 | United Kingdom | 1.6% | 2025 | down 33.7% | falling |
| 149 | Nepal | 1.6% | 2025 | up 34.6% | rising |
| 150 | Togo | 1.6% | 2025 | up 25.5% | rising |
| 151 | Japan | 1.6% | 2025 | down 23.5% | falling |
| 152 | Zambia | 1.6% | 2025 | up 0.5% | falling |
| 153 | Kyrgyzstan | 1.5% | 2025 | down 50.8% | rising |
| 154 | Cote d'Ivoire | 1.5% | 2025 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 155 | Liberia | 1.5% | 2025 | down 3.7% | flat |
| 156 | Pakistan | 1.5% | 2025 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 157 | Romania | 1.4% | 2025 | down 22.5% | falling |
| 158 | Russia | 1.4% | 2025 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 159 | Malawi | 1.4% | 2025 | up 16.9% | rising |
| 160 | Senegal | 1.3% | 2025 | up 57.1% | rising |
| 161 | Chad | 1.3% | 2025 | up 21.9% | rising |
| 162 | Kazakhstan | 1.3% | 2025 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 163 | Benin | 1.3% | 2025 | up 61.9% | rising |
| 164 | Solomon Islands | 1.3% | 2025 | up 25.5% | rising |
| 165 | Fiji | 1.3% | 2025 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 166 | Burundi | 1.2% | 2025 | up 53.6% | rising |
| 167 | Oman | 1.1% | 2025 | up 2.5% | falling |
| 168 | Lithuania | 1.1% | 2025 | up 14.9% | rising |
| 169 | Bahamas | 1.1% | 2025 | up 11.6% | falling |
| 170 | Rwanda | 1.1% | 2025 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 171 | Comoros | 1.1% | 2025 | up 10.7% | volatile |
| 172 | Kenya | 1.0% | 2025 | down 64.9% | volatile |
| 173 | Congo | 0.9% | 2025 | up 8.7% | flat |
| 174 | Armenia | 0.8% | 2025 | up 716.7% | falling |
| 175 | Haiti | 0.8% | 2025 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 176 | Laos | 0.8% | 2025 | up 12.2% | rising |
| 177 | Kuwait | 0.8% | 2025 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 178 | Barbados | 0.7% | 2025 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 179 | Norway | 0.7% | 2025 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 180 | Mali | 0.6% | 2025 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 181 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.5% | 2025 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 182 | Belarus | 0.5% | 2025 | down 7.1% | rising |
| 183 | Bhutan | 0.5% | 2025 | up 170.7% | volatile |
| 184 | Qatar | 0.4% | 2025 | up 35.8% | falling |
| 185 | Ethiopia | 0.2% | 2025 | down 58.6% | falling |
| 186 | Moldova | 0.2% | 2025 | down 53.1% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Africa Western and Central 11.5%
- IDA blend 9.8%
- Pre-demographic dividend 7.6%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 6.7%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 6.7%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 6.7%
- IDA total 5.5%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 5.4%
- Other small states 5.1%
- Lower middle income 4.9%
- Euro area 4.6%
- Small states 4.5%
About this data
Employers are those workers who, working on their own account or with one or a few partners, hold the type of jobs defined as a "self-employment jobs" i.e. jobs where the remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits derived from the goods and services produced), and, in this capacity, have engaged, on a continuous basis, one or more persons to work for them as employee(s).