Own-account workers, total in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Own-account workers, total was 48.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–2016
Source: World Bank. Measured in % of total employment.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 48.0% for own-account workers, total in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 55.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 48.0%, in 2016.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 3rd out of 25 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Own-account workers, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total employment | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54.8% | — |
| 1992 | 54.5% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 54.9% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 53.4% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 54.9% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 54.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 54.9% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 55.0% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 53.4% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 51.8% | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 52.5% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 52.6% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 52.6% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 52.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 52.7% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 51.8% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 49.4% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 50.1% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 50.6% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 50.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 48.9% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 48.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 48.4% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 48.4% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 48.6% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 48.0% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.5% | 53.4% | 55.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 51.6% | 49.4% | 52.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 48.0% | 50.3% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, total in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Own-account workers, total in Sub-Saharan Africa was 48.0% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
- What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.0% in 1998.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.0% in 2016.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for own-account workers, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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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