Own-account workers, total in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Own-account workers, total was 39.9% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
39.9%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
41st
of 186 countries
All-time high
43.2%
in 2001
All-time low
37.7%
in 1991
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in Afghanistan, 1991–2016

0102030401991200320161991: 37.7 % of total employment1992: 37.9 % of total employment1993: 40.4 % of total employment1994: 41.5 % of total employment1995: 39.2 % of total employment1996: 40.6 % of total employment1997: 41.2 % of total employment1998: 41.7 % of total employment1999: 42.2 % of total employment2000: 42.8 % of total employment2001: 43.2 % of total employment2002: 40.6 % of total employment2003: 41.8 % of total employment2004: 42.6 % of total employment2005: 42.1 % of total employment2006: 42.4 % of total employment2007: 42 % of total employment2008: 42.5 % of total employment2009: 41 % of total employment2010: 40.9 % of total employment2011: 40.7 % of total employment2012: 40.1 % of total employment2013: 40 % of total employment2014: 40 % of total employment2015: 40.1 % of total employment2016: 39.9 % of total employment

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of total employment.

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, total in Afghanistan stood at 39.9%.

That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Afghanistan peaked at 43.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 37.7%, in 1991.

Afghanistan ranks 41st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Own-account workers, total in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Afghanistan, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 37.7%
1992 37.9% +0.6%
1993 40.4% +6.5%
1994 41.5% +2.8%
1995 39.2% -5.7%
1996 40.6% +3.7%
1997 41.2% +1.3%
1998 41.7% +1.3%
1999 42.2% +1.3%
2000 42.8% +1.3%
2001 43.2% +1.2%
2002 40.6% -6.1%
2003 41.8% +2.9%
2004 42.6% +1.8%
2005 42.1% -1.0%
2006 42.4% +0.6%
2007 42.0% -0.8%
2008 42.5% +1.0%
2009 41.0% -3.6%
2010 40.9% -0.1%
2011 40.7% -0.4%
2012 40.1% -1.6%
2013 40.0% -0.1%
2014 40.0% -0.1%
2015 40.1% +0.2%
2016 39.9% -0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 40.3% 37.7% 42.2% 9
2000s 42.1% 40.6% 43.2% 10
2010s 40.2% 39.9% 40.9% 7

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 38 Zambia 42.7% compare
  2. 39 Madagascar 42.2% compare
  3. 40 Dominican Republic 40.0% compare
  4. 42 Viet Nam 39.9% compare
  5. 43 Mauritania 38.9% compare
  6. 44 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 38.5% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Afghanistan?
Own-account workers, total in Afghanistan was 39.9% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 43.2% in 2001.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 37.7% in 1991.
How does Afghanistan rank for own-account workers, total?
Afghanistan ranks 41st out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Own-account workers, total (% of total employment). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, total in Afghanistan. Statizoid. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, total (% of total employment)
Unit
% of total employment
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed