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%
Republic of 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 Republic of 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 | Timor-Leste | 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, State of | 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 | Republic of 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 | Türkiye | 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, Plurinational State of | 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 | Macau, China | 3.4% | 2025 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 90 | French Polynesia | 3.4% | 2025 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 91 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 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, Bolivarian Republic of | 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 Darussalam | 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 of America | 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 | Viet Nam | 1.9% | 2025 | down 32.8% | falling |
| 140 | Hong Kong, China | 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, United Republic of | 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 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 | Côte 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 | Russian Federation | 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 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 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 | Republic of 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%
- Euro area 4.6%
- IDA blend 9.8%
- Chagai 4.4%
- Pre-demographic dividend 7.6%
- European Union 4.3%
- 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%
- Small states 4.5%
- Middle income 4.4%
- Low & middle income 4.2%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 4.2%
- IDA & IBRD total 4.1%
- Latin America & Caribbean 4.1%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 4.1%
- Caribbean Small States 4.0%
- World 4.0%
- Upper middle income 4.0%
- Arab World 3.9%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 3.9%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 3.8%
- Late-demographic dividend 3.8%
- Europe & Central Asia 3.8%
- East Asia & Pacific 3.8%
- IBRD only 3.7%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 3.5%
- OECD members 3.5%
- Early-demographic dividend 3.4%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 3.3%
- South Asia 3.3%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 3.3%
- Post-demographic dividend 3.3%
- High income 3.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 3.0%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 2.9%
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).