Own-account workers, total in Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo: Own-account workers, total was 38.5% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
38.5%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
44th
of 186 countries
All-time high
50.0%
in 1991
All-time low
35.0%
in 2004
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1991–2016

010203040501991200320161991: 50 % of total employment1992: 47.9 % of total employment1993: 46.7 % of total employment1994: 44.2 % of total employment1995: 44.9 % of total employment1996: 39.4 % of total employment1997: 41.4 % of total employment1998: 44.5 % of total employment1999: 40.9 % of total employment2000: 37.3 % of total employment2001: 38.9 % of total employment2002: 38.9 % of total employment2003: 38.7 % of total employment2004: 35 % of total employment2005: 37.6 % of total employment2006: 37.6 % of total employment2007: 38 % of total employment2008: 36.5 % of total employment2009: 37.7 % of total employment2010: 37.2 % of total employment2011: 36.5 % of total employment2012: 36.7 % of total employment2013: 36 % of total employment2014: 35.9 % of total employment2015: 37.7 % of total employment2016: 38.5 % of total employment

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

Analysis

Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 38.5% for own-account workers, total in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 50.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2004.

That places Democratic Republic of Congo 44th out of 186 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Own-account workers, total in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 50.0%
1992 47.9% -4.1%
1993 46.7% -2.5%
1994 44.2% -5.4%
1995 44.9% +1.6%
1996 39.4% -12.3%
1997 41.4% +5.1%
1998 44.5% +7.4%
1999 40.9% -7.9%
2000 37.3% -8.8%
2001 38.9% +4.2%
2002 38.9% -0.2%
2003 38.7% -0.4%
2004 35.0% -9.5%
2005 37.6% +7.5%
2006 37.6% -0.0%
2007 38.0% +0.9%
2008 36.5% -3.9%
2009 37.7% +3.3%
2010 37.2% -1.3%
2011 36.5% -2.0%
2012 36.7% +0.6%
2013 36.0% -1.8%
2014 35.9% -0.4%
2015 37.7% +5.1%
2016 38.5% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 44.4% 39.4% 50.0% 9
2000s 37.6% 35.0% 38.9% 10
2010s 36.9% 35.9% 38.5% 7

Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. 41 Afghanistan 39.9% compare
  2. 42 Vietnam 39.9% compare
  3. 43 Mauritania 38.9% compare
  4. 45 Bhutan 37.9% compare
  5. 46 Nepal 36.9% compare
  6. 47 Jamaica 36.8% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Democratic Republic of Congo

All data for Democratic Republic of Congo →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Democratic Republic of Congo?
Own-account workers, total in Democratic Republic of Congo was 38.5% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
The highest recorded value was 50.0% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2004.
How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for own-account workers, total?
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 44th out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 Democratic Republic of Congo. Statizoid. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/congo-dem-rep/

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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