Own-account workers, total in Kenya

Kenya: Own-account workers, total was 19.3% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
19.3%
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
113th
of 186 countries
All-time high
19.3%
in 2016
All-time low
12.9%
in 2006
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

051015201991200320161991: 15.1 % of total employment1992: 15.6 % of total employment1993: 17.3 % of total employment1994: 18.3 % of total employment1995: 17.6 % of total employment1996: 16.7 % of total employment1997: 16.8 % of total employment1998: 17.2 % of total employment1999: 17.9 % of total employment2000: 17.8 % of total employment2001: 17.4 % of total employment2002: 16.1 % of total employment2003: 16.1 % of total employment2004: 15.6 % of total employment2005: 15 % of total employment2006: 12.9 % of total employment2007: 12.9 % of total employment2008: 13.4 % of total employment2009: 14 % of total employment2010: 14.9 % of total employment2011: 15.4 % of total employment2012: 15.3 % of total employment2013: 15.6 % of total employment2014: 16.2 % of total employment2015: 17.9 % of total employment2016: 19.3 % of total employment

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

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, total in Kenya stood at 19.3%. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of up 7.9% on the previous year and up 49.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Kenya peaked at 19.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 12.9%, in 2006.

That places Kenya 113th out of 186 countries with data for 2016, putting it 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 Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Kenya, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 15.1%
1992 15.6% +3.1%
1993 17.3% +11.1%
1994 18.3% +5.6%
1995 17.6% -4.0%
1996 16.7% -4.7%
1997 16.8% +0.4%
1998 17.2% +2.2%
1999 17.9% +4.5%
2000 17.8% -0.6%
2001 17.4% -2.5%
2002 16.1% -7.3%
2003 16.1% +0.2%
2004 15.6% -3.4%
2005 15.0% -3.5%
2006 12.9% -14.4%
2007 12.9% +0.3%
2008 13.4% +4.1%
2009 14.0% +4.2%
2010 14.9% +6.4%
2011 15.4% +3.1%
2012 15.3% -0.5%
2013 15.6% +2.2%
2014 16.2% +3.9%
2015 17.9% +10.1%
2016 19.3% +7.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 16.9% 15.1% 18.3% 9
2000s 15.1% 12.9% 17.8% 10
2010s 16.4% 14.9% 19.3% 7

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 110 South Korea 20.0% compare
  2. 111 Serbia 20.0% compare
  3. 112 Uzbekistan 19.5% compare
  4. 114 Eswatini 18.4% compare
  5. 115 Malaysia 17.8% compare
  6. 116 Tunisia 17.7% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Kenya?
Own-account workers, total in Kenya was 19.3% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2016.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 12.9% in 2006.
How does Kenya rank for own-account workers, total?
Kenya ranks 113th out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Kenya 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 Kenya. Statizoid. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/kenya/

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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