Own-account workers, total in South Asia

South Asia: Own-account workers, total was 58.1% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
58.1%
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
1st
of 25 groups
All-time high
60.8%
in 2000
All-time low
57.8%
in 2012
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

02040601991200320161991: 60.3 % of total employment1992: 60.3 % of total employment1993: 60.4 % of total employment1994: 60.2 % of total employment1995: 60.3 % of total employment1996: 60.5 % of total employment1997: 60.6 % of total employment1998: 60.7 % of total employment1999: 60.8 % of total employment2000: 60.8 % of total employment2001: 59.9 % of total employment2002: 58.9 % of total employment2003: 59.1 % of total employment2004: 58.9 % of total employment2005: 58.9 % of total employment2006: 58.8 % of total employment2007: 58.9 % of total employment2008: 59.1 % of total employment2009: 59.3 % of total employment2010: 59.4 % of total employment2011: 57.9 % of total employment2012: 57.8 % of total employment2013: 57.9 % of total employment2014: 58.1 % of total employment2015: 58.2 % of total employment2016: 58.1 % of total employment

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, total in South Asia is 58.1%, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in South Asia peaked at 60.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 57.8%, in 2012.

That places South Asia 1st out of 25 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in South Asia, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 60.3%
1992 60.3% -0.1%
1993 60.4% +0.2%
1994 60.2% -0.3%
1995 60.3% +0.2%
1996 60.5% +0.2%
1997 60.6% +0.3%
1998 60.7% +0.2%
1999 60.8% +0.1%
2000 60.8% +0.0%
2001 59.9% -1.6%
2002 58.9% -1.6%
2003 59.1% +0.3%
2004 58.9% -0.4%
2005 58.9% +0.1%
2006 58.8% -0.2%
2007 58.9% +0.1%
2008 59.1% +0.3%
2009 59.3% +0.5%
2010 59.4% +0.1%
2011 57.9% -2.6%
2012 57.8% -0.1%
2013 57.9% +0.1%
2014 58.1% +0.4%
2015 58.2% +0.2%
2016 58.1% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 60.5% 60.2% 60.8% 9
2000s 59.3% 58.8% 60.8% 10
2010s 58.2% 57.8% 59.4% 7

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 1 Burundi 84.7% compare
  2. 2 Haiti 83.9% compare
  3. 3 Sierra Leone 82.0% compare
  4. 4 Benin 72.6% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for South Asia

All data for South Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in South Asia?
Own-account workers, total in South Asia was 58.1% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 60.8% in 2000.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 57.8% in 2012.
How does South Asia rank for own-account workers, total?
South Asia ranks 1st out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Asia 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 Asia. Statizoid. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/south-asia/

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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