Own-account workers, total in Ireland

Ireland: Own-account workers, total was 11.5% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
11.5%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
142nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
16.7%
in 1992
All-time low
10.2%
in 2006
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

0510151991200320161991: 16.2 % of total employment1992: 16.7 % of total employment1993: 15.6 % of total employment1994: 15.3 % of total employment1995: 15 % of total employment1996: 14.7 % of total employment1997: 14 % of total employment1998: 12.8 % of total employment1999: 12.1 % of total employment2000: 11.8 % of total employment2001: 11.3 % of total employment2002: 11.3 % of total employment2003: 10.9 % of total employment2004: 11.4 % of total employment2005: 10.7 % of total employment2006: 10.2 % of total employment2007: 10.5 % of total employment2008: 11 % of total employment2009: 11.3 % of total employment2010: 11.1 % of total employment2011: 11.1 % of total employment2012: 11 % of total employment2013: 11.9 % of total employment2014: 12 % of total employment2015: 11.8 % of total employment2016: 11.5 % of total employment

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

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, total in Ireland stood at 11.5%.

The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Ireland peaked at 16.7% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2006.

Ireland ranks 142nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Ireland, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 16.2%
1992 16.7% +2.9%
1993 15.6% -6.4%
1994 15.3% -1.8%
1995 15.0% -2.5%
1996 14.7% -1.9%
1997 14.0% -4.4%
1998 12.8% -9.0%
1999 12.1% -5.4%
2000 11.8% -2.1%
2001 11.3% -4.6%
2002 11.3% -0.4%
2003 10.9% -2.9%
2004 11.4% +4.6%
2005 10.7% -6.2%
2006 10.2% -4.7%
2007 10.5% +2.7%
2008 11.0% +5.3%
2009 11.3% +2.3%
2010 11.1% -1.9%
2011 11.1% -0.3%
2012 11.0% -0.1%
2013 11.9% +7.9%
2014 12.0% +0.5%
2015 11.8% -1.7%
2016 11.5% -2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 14.7% 12.1% 16.7% 9
2000s 11.1% 10.2% 11.8% 10
2010s 11.5% 11.0% 12.0% 7

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 139 Egypt 12.1% compare
  2. 140 Botswana 11.8% compare
  3. 141 Spain 11.5% compare
  4. 143 Cyprus 11.3% compare
  5. 144 New Zealand 11.3% compare
  6. 145 Suriname 11.3% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Ireland?
Own-account workers, total in Ireland was 11.5% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 16.7% in 1992.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2006.
How does Ireland rank for own-account workers, total?
Ireland ranks 142nd out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland 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 Ireland. Statizoid. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/ireland/

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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