Informal employment in Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa: Informal employment was 191,952 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Informal employment in Eastern Africa, 2004–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, informal employment in Eastern Africa stood at 191,952. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, informal employment in Eastern Africa peaked at 191,952 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 105,710, in 2004.
That places Eastern Africa 28th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Informal employment in Eastern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 105,710 | — |
| 2005 | 108,890 | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 111,751 | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 114,498 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 117,482 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 120,364 | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 122,905 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 127,456 | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 129,265 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 135,298 | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 136,823 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 139,518 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 142,360 | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 144,545 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 148,042 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 151,787 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 154,902 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 160,599 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 166,794 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 172,431 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 177,032 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 181,827 | +2.7% |
| 2026 | 186,924 | +2.8% |
| 2027 | 191,952 | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 113,116 | 105,710 | 120,364 | 6 |
| 2010s | 137,800 | 122,905 | 151,787 | 10 |
| 2020s | 174,058 | 154,902 | 191,952 | 8 |
More work & labour data for Eastern Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5671 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4375 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4374 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 418,217 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 682,632 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 699,973 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 469,912 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.38 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is informal employment in Eastern Africa?
- Informal employment in Eastern Africa was 191,952 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest informal employment recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 191,952 in 2027.
- What is the lowest informal employment recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 105,710 in 2004.
- How does Eastern Africa rank for informal employment?
- Eastern Africa ranks 28th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is informal employment rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eastern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Informal employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. Informal employment comprises persons who in their main or secondary jobs were (a) own-account workers, employers and members of producers' cooperatives employed in their own informal sector enterprises; (b) own-account workers engaged in the production of goods exclusively for own final use by their household (e.g. subsistence farming); (c) contributing family workers, regardless of whether they work in formal or informal sector enterprises; or (d) employees holding informal jobs, whether employed by formal sector enterprises, informal sector enterprises, or as paid domestic workers by households. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.