Own-account workers, total in South Africa

South Africa: Own-account workers, total was 9.1% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
9.1%
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
154th
of 187 countries
All-time high
11.9%
in 2006
All-time low
8.3%
in 2014
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in South Africa, 1991–2016

02.557.51012.51991200320161991: 10 % of total employment1992: 10.2 % of total employment1993: 10.5 % of total employment1994: 10.6 % of total employment1995: 10.5 % of total employment1996: 10.6 % of total employment1997: 10.6 % of total employment1998: 10.5 % of total employment1999: 10.6 % of total employment2000: 10.5 % of total employment2001: 10.5 % of total employment2002: 10.4 % of total employment2003: 10.5 % of total employment2004: 10.4 % of total employment2005: 11 % of total employment2006: 11.9 % of total employment2007: 10.6 % of total employment2008: 9.3 % of total employment2009: 9.2 % of total employment2010: 9.4 % of total employment2011: 9.4 % of total employment2012: 9.4 % of total employment2013: 8.9 % of total employment2014: 8.3 % of total employment2015: 8.9 % of total employment2016: 9.1 % of total employment

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, total in South Africa is 9.1%, measured in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and down 23.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in South Africa peaked at 11.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 8.3%, in 2014.

That places South Africa 154th out of 187 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Own-account workers, total in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in South Africa, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 10.0%
1992 10.2% +2.6%
1993 10.5% +2.3%
1994 10.6% +1.7%
1995 10.5% -1.5%
1996 10.6% +1.6%
1997 10.6% -0.5%
1998 10.5% -0.7%
1999 10.6% +0.6%
2000 10.5% -0.4%
2001 10.5% -0.4%
2002 10.4% -0.4%
2003 10.5% +0.7%
2004 10.4% -1.2%
2005 11.0% +5.9%
2006 11.9% +8.2%
2007 10.6% -10.9%
2008 9.3% -12.3%
2009 9.2% -1.1%
2010 9.4% +2.4%
2011 9.4% -0.6%
2012 9.4% +0.6%
2013 8.9% -5.7%
2014 8.3% -7.0%
2015 8.9% +7.2%
2016 9.1% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 10.5% 10.0% 10.6% 9
2000s 10.4% 9.2% 11.9% 10
2010s 9.1% 8.3% 9.4% 7

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 151 Channel Islands 9.3% compare
  2. 152 Montenegro 9.3% compare
  3. 153 Jordan 9.2% compare
  4. 155 Lithuania 9.1% compare
  5. 156 Malta 8.9% compare
  6. 157 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8.5% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in South Africa?
Own-account workers, total in South Africa was 9.1% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 11.9% in 2006.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 8.3% in 2014.
How does South Africa rank for own-account workers, total?
South Africa ranks 154th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/south-africa/

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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