Own-account workers, total in European Union

European Union: Own-account workers, total was 10.6% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
10.6%
Change on year
down 1.0%
Rank
21st
of 25 groups
All-time high
12.0%
in 1991
All-time low
10.1%
in 2002
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in European Union, 1991–2016

02.557.51012.51991200320161991: 12 % of total employment1992: 10.8 % of total employment1993: 11 % of total employment1994: 11.2 % of total employment1995: 11.4 % of total employment1996: 11.2 % of total employment1997: 10.9 % of total employment1998: 10.7 % of total employment1999: 10.5 % of total employment2000: 10.3 % of total employment2001: 10.2 % of total employment2002: 10.1 % of total employment2003: 10.1 % of total employment2004: 10.7 % of total employment2005: 10.7 % of total employment2006: 10.6 % of total employment2007: 10.5 % of total employment2008: 10.3 % of total employment2009: 10.5 % of total employment2010: 10.8 % of total employment2011: 10.8 % of total employment2012: 10.9 % of total employment2013: 10.8 % of total employment2014: 10.9 % of total employment2015: 10.7 % of total employment2016: 10.6 % of total employment

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

Analysis

European Union recorded 10.6% for own-account workers, total in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in European Union peaked at 12.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2002.

European Union ranks 21st of 25 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Own-account workers, total in European Union, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in European Union, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 12.0%
1992 10.8% -9.9%
1993 11.0% +2.0%
1994 11.2% +1.8%
1995 11.4% +1.4%
1996 11.2% -1.4%
1997 10.9% -2.5%
1998 10.7% -1.8%
1999 10.5% -1.9%
2000 10.3% -2.2%
2001 10.2% -0.8%
2002 10.1% -1.5%
2003 10.1% +0.2%
2004 10.7% +6.3%
2005 10.7% -0.0%
2006 10.6% -0.9%
2007 10.5% -0.8%
2008 10.3% -1.9%
2009 10.5% +1.3%
2010 10.8% +3.2%
2011 10.8% -0.1%
2012 10.9% +1.4%
2013 10.8% -0.7%
2014 10.9% +0.3%
2015 10.7% -1.4%
2016 10.6% -1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 11.1% 10.5% 12.0% 9
2000s 10.4% 10.1% 10.7% 10
2010s 10.8% 10.6% 10.9% 7

Countries ranked near European Union

  1. 18 Niger 59.0% compare
  2. 19 Uganda 58.0% compare
  3. 20 Zimbabwe 57.1% compare
  4. 21 Gambia 56.8% compare
  5. 22 Guinea 56.6% compare
  6. 23 Angola 56.2% compare
  7. 24 Lesotho 53.1% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for European Union

All data for European Union →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in European Union?
Own-account workers, total in European Union was 10.6% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in European Union?
The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in European Union?
The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2002.
How does European Union rank for own-account workers, total?
European Union ranks 21st out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in European Union?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this European Union 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 European Union. Statizoid. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/european-union/

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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