Own-account workers, total in Low & middle income

Low & middle income: Own-account workers, total was 37.0% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
37.0%
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
8th
of 25 groups
All-time high
38.7%
in 1999
All-time low
36.6%
in 2012
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in Low & middle income, 1991–2016

0102030401991200320161991: 38.2 % of total employment1992: 38.2 % of total employment1993: 38.2 % of total employment1994: 38.1 % of total employment1995: 38.2 % of total employment1996: 38.2 % of total employment1997: 38.3 % of total employment1998: 38.6 % of total employment1999: 38.7 % of total employment2000: 38.5 % of total employment2001: 38.5 % of total employment2002: 38.4 % of total employment2003: 38.4 % of total employment2004: 38.2 % of total employment2005: 38.1 % of total employment2006: 37.8 % of total employment2007: 37.5 % of total employment2008: 37.4 % of total employment2009: 37.6 % of total employment2010: 37.5 % of total employment2011: 36.8 % of total employment2012: 36.6 % of total employment2013: 36.8 % of total employment2014: 36.7 % of total employment2015: 37 % of total employment2016: 37 % of total employment

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, total in Low & middle income is 37.0%, measured in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Low & middle income peaked at 38.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 2012.

Low & middle income ranks 8th of 25 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Own-account workers, total in Low & middle income, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Low & middle income, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 38.2%
1992 38.2% +0.1%
1993 38.2% +0.0%
1994 38.1% -0.3%
1995 38.2% +0.3%
1996 38.2% -0.1%
1997 38.3% +0.4%
1998 38.6% +0.6%
1999 38.7% +0.2%
2000 38.5% -0.5%
2001 38.5% +0.0%
2002 38.4% -0.2%
2003 38.4% +0.0%
2004 38.2% -0.6%
2005 38.1% -0.1%
2006 37.8% -0.8%
2007 37.5% -0.9%
2008 37.4% -0.1%
2009 37.6% +0.5%
2010 37.5% -0.4%
2011 36.8% -2.0%
2012 36.6% -0.3%
2013 36.8% +0.4%
2014 36.7% -0.1%
2015 37.0% +0.6%
2016 37.0% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 38.3% 38.1% 38.7% 9
2000s 38.0% 37.4% 38.5% 10
2010s 36.9% 36.6% 37.5% 7

Countries ranked near Low & middle income

  1. 5 Rwanda 71.3% compare
  2. 6 Nigeria 71.2% compare
  3. 7 Somalia 71.1% compare
  4. 8 Congo 70.4% compare
  5. 9 Cameroon 70.3% compare
  6. 10 Central African Republic 64.6% compare
  7. 11 India 64.3% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Low & middle income

All data for Low & middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Low & middle income?
Own-account workers, total in Low & middle income was 37.0% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Low & middle income?
The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 1999.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Low & middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2012.
How does Low & middle income rank for own-account workers, total?
Low & middle income ranks 8th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Low & middle income?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Low & middle income 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 Low & middle income. Statizoid. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/low-and-middle-income/

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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