Own-account workers, total in Germany

Germany: Own-account workers, total was 5.6% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
5.6%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
173rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
6.3%
in 2011
All-time low
3.7%
in 1991
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

02461991200320161991: 3.7 % of total employment1992: 3.8 % of total employment1993: 4 % of total employment1994: 4 % of total employment1995: 4.2 % of total employment1996: 4.6 % of total employment1997: 4.9 % of total employment1998: 4.9 % of total employment1999: 4.9 % of total employment2000: 5.1 % of total employment2001: 4.9 % of total employment2002: 5 % of total employment2003: 5.4 % of total employment2004: 5.8 % of total employment2005: 6.3 % of total employment2006: 6.2 % of total employment2007: 6.1 % of total employment2008: 6 % of total employment2009: 6.1 % of total employment2010: 6.2 % of total employment2011: 6.3 % of total employment2012: 6.3 % of total employment2013: 6 % of total employment2014: 5.9 % of total employment2015: 5.7 % of total employment2016: 5.6 % of total employment

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, total in Germany is 5.6%, measured in 2016.

The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Germany peaked at 6.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1991.

That places Germany 173rd out of 186 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Germany, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 3.7%
1992 3.8% +2.9%
1993 4.0% +4.0%
1994 4.0% +0.6%
1995 4.2% +5.6%
1996 4.6% +8.1%
1997 4.9% +6.1%
1998 4.9% +0.3%
1999 4.9% -0.7%
2000 5.1% +4.1%
2001 4.9% -2.3%
2002 5.0% +2.0%
2003 5.4% +7.0%
2004 5.8% +7.2%
2005 6.3% +9.3%
2006 6.2% -1.1%
2007 6.1% -1.9%
2008 6.0% -2.2%
2009 6.1% +2.4%
2010 6.2% +0.4%
2011 6.3% +2.5%
2012 6.3% -0.4%
2013 6.0% -4.5%
2014 5.9% -2.0%
2015 5.7% -2.5%
2016 5.6% -2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4.3% 3.7% 4.9% 9
2000s 5.7% 4.9% 6.3% 10
2010s 6.0% 5.6% 6.3% 7

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 170 Sweden 6.1% compare
  2. 171 Russian Federation 5.8% compare
  3. 172 Hong Kong 5.6% compare
  4. 174 Hungary 5.5% compare
  5. 175 Estonia 5.5% compare
  6. 176 Luxembourg 5.3% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Germany?
Own-account workers, total in Germany was 5.6% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 2011.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1991.
How does Germany rank for own-account workers, total?
Germany ranks 173rd out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Germany 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 Germany. Statizoid. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/germany/

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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