Own-account workers, total in China

China: Own-account workers, total was 25.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
25.0%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
95th
of 186 countries
All-time high
29.5%
in 1991
All-time low
24.7%
in 2014
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

01020301991200320161991: 29.5 % of total employment1992: 29.5 % of total employment1993: 28.9 % of total employment1994: 28.5 % of total employment1995: 28 % of total employment1996: 27.7 % of total employment1997: 27.7 % of total employment1998: 27.9 % of total employment1999: 27.9 % of total employment2000: 27.9 % of total employment2001: 28 % of total employment2002: 27.9 % of total employment2003: 27.5 % of total employment2004: 27 % of total employment2005: 26.7 % of total employment2006: 26.3 % of total employment2007: 26.2 % of total employment2008: 25.6 % of total employment2009: 25.6 % of total employment2010: 25.2 % of total employment2011: 24.8 % of total employment2012: 24.7 % of total employment2013: 24.7 % of total employment2014: 24.7 % of total employment2015: 25 % of total employment2016: 25 % of total employment

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

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, total in China stood at 25.0%.

That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in China peaked at 29.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 2014.

China ranks 95th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in China, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 29.5%
1992 29.5% -0.0%
1993 28.9% -2.1%
1994 28.5% -1.2%
1995 28.0% -1.7%
1996 27.7% -1.2%
1997 27.7% -0.1%
1998 27.9% +0.7%
1999 27.9% +0.3%
2000 27.9% -0.1%
2001 28.0% +0.2%
2002 27.9% -0.1%
2003 27.5% -1.5%
2004 27.0% -1.7%
2005 26.7% -1.4%
2006 26.3% -1.2%
2007 26.2% -0.7%
2008 25.6% -2.2%
2009 25.6% -0.1%
2010 25.2% -1.5%
2011 24.8% -1.6%
2012 24.7% -0.4%
2013 24.7% +0.1%
2014 24.7% -0.2%
2015 25.0% +1.1%
2016 25.0% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 28.4% 27.7% 29.5% 9
2000s 26.9% 25.6% 28.0% 10
2010s 24.9% 24.7% 25.2% 7

Countries ranked near China

  1. 92 Libya 25.8% compare
  2. 93 Brazil 25.2% compare
  3. 94 Kazakhstan 25.0% compare
  4. 96 Fiji 24.5% compare
  5. 97 United States Virgin Islands 23.6% compare
  6. 98 Guam 23.3% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in China?
Own-account workers, total in China was 25.0% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 29.5% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 2014.
How does China rank for own-account workers, total?
China ranks 95th out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China 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 China. Statizoid. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/china/

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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