Own-account workers, total in Japan

Japan: Own-account workers, total was 6.2% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
6.2%
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
168th
of 186 countries
All-time high
13.2%
in 1991
All-time low
6.2%
in 2016
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

0510151991200320161991: 13.2 % of total employment1992: 12.8 % of total employment1993: 12.4 % of total employment1994: 12.1 % of total employment1995: 11.9 % of total employment1996: 11.6 % of total employment1997: 11.6 % of total employment1998: 11.5 % of total employment1999: 11.5 % of total employment2000: 11.1 % of total employment2001: 10.6 % of total employment2002: 10.4 % of total employment2003: 10.2 % of total employment2004: 10.2 % of total employment2005: 10.1 % of total employment2006: 9.7 % of total employment2007: 9.5 % of total employment2008: 9.3 % of total employment2009: 9.3 % of total employment2010: 9.1 % of total employment2011: 8.8 % of total employment2012: 6.7 % of total employment2013: 6.6 % of total employment2014: 6.7 % of total employment2015: 6.5 % of total employment2016: 6.2 % of total employment

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

Analysis

Japan recorded 6.2% for own-account workers, total in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of down 4.6% on the previous year and down 36.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Japan peaked at 13.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2016.

Japan ranks 168th 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 Japan, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Japan, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 13.2%
1992 12.8% -2.8%
1993 12.4% -3.8%
1994 12.1% -2.2%
1995 11.9% -1.6%
1996 11.6% -2.8%
1997 11.6% -0.0%
1998 11.5% -0.8%
1999 11.5% -0.0%
2000 11.1% -2.9%
2001 10.6% -4.7%
2002 10.4% -2.1%
2003 10.2% -1.3%
2004 10.2% -0.7%
2005 10.1% -1.1%
2006 9.7% -3.3%
2007 9.5% -2.1%
2008 9.3% -2.1%
2009 9.3% -0.4%
2010 9.1% -2.3%
2011 8.8% -3.3%
2012 6.7% -23.4%
2013 6.6% -1.8%
2014 6.7% +1.0%
2015 6.5% -2.5%
2016 6.2% -4.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.0% 11.5% 13.2% 9
2000s 10.0% 9.3% 11.1% 10
2010s 7.2% 6.2% 9.1% 7

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 165 France 7.2% compare
  2. 166 Switzerland 7.1% compare
  3. 167 Austria 6.7% compare
  4. 169 United States of America 6.1% compare
  5. 170 Sweden 6.1% compare
  6. 171 Russian Federation 5.8% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Japan?
Own-account workers, total in Japan was 6.2% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2016.
How does Japan rank for own-account workers, total?
Japan ranks 168th out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is down 36.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Japan 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 Japan. Statizoid. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/japan/

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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