Own-account workers, total in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Own-account workers, total was 31.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
31.9%
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
63rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
50.8%
in 1997
All-time low
31.9%
in 2016
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

02040601991200320161991: 43.7 % of total employment1992: 48.2 % of total employment1993: 45.7 % of total employment1994: 40.1 % of total employment1995: 50.1 % of total employment1996: 49.5 % of total employment1997: 50.8 % of total employment1998: 46.8 % of total employment1999: 43.9 % of total employment2000: 43.8 % of total employment2001: 41.9 % of total employment2002: 38.8 % of total employment2003: 37.7 % of total employment2004: 39.3 % of total employment2005: 41.3 % of total employment2006: 40.6 % of total employment2007: 40.4 % of total employment2008: 43.4 % of total employment2009: 43.9 % of total employment2010: 41 % of total employment2011: 40.9 % of total employment2012: 43.5 % of total employment2013: 40.5 % of total employment2014: 37.3 % of total employment2015: 34.4 % of total employment2016: 31.9 % of total employment

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, total in Ethiopia is 31.9%, measured in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Ethiopia peaked at 50.8% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 31.9%, in 2016.

Ethiopia ranks 63rd 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 Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Ethiopia, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 43.7%
1992 48.2% +10.2%
1993 45.7% -5.0%
1994 40.1% -12.2%
1995 50.1% +24.7%
1996 49.5% -1.2%
1997 50.8% +2.8%
1998 46.8% -8.0%
1999 43.9% -6.0%
2000 43.8% -0.2%
2001 41.9% -4.3%
2002 38.8% -7.5%
2003 37.7% -2.9%
2004 39.3% +4.3%
2005 41.3% +5.0%
2006 40.6% -1.6%
2007 40.4% -0.5%
2008 43.4% +7.3%
2009 43.9% +1.2%
2010 41.0% -6.5%
2011 40.9% -0.3%
2012 43.5% +6.4%
2013 40.5% -7.0%
2014 37.3% -8.0%
2015 34.4% -7.8%
2016 31.9% -7.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 46.5% 40.1% 50.8% 9
2000s 41.1% 37.7% 43.9% 10
2010s 38.5% 31.9% 43.5% 7

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 60 Cambodia 32.2% compare
  2. 61 Thailand 32.0% compare
  3. 62 Syrian Arab Republic 32.0% compare
  4. 64 Sri Lanka 31.8% compare
  5. 65 Paraguay 31.6% compare
  6. 66 Gabon 31.3% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Ethiopia?
Own-account workers, total in Ethiopia was 31.9% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 1997.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 31.9% in 2016.
How does Ethiopia rank for own-account workers, total?
Ethiopia ranks 63rd out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia. Statizoid. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/ethiopia/

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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