Own-account workers, total in World

World: Own-account workers, total was 32.0% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
32.0%
Change on year
up 0.1%
Rank
1st
of 3 groups
All-time high
33.2%
in 1999
All-time low
31.8%
in 2012
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

01020301991200320161991: 32.7 % of total employment1992: 32.7 % of total employment1993: 32.8 % of total employment1994: 32.8 % of total employment1995: 32.9 % of total employment1996: 32.9 % of total employment1997: 32.9 % of total employment1998: 33.1 % of total employment1999: 33.2 % of total employment2000: 33 % of total employment2001: 33.1 % of total employment2002: 33.1 % of total employment2003: 33.1 % of total employment2004: 33 % of total employment2005: 33 % of total employment2006: 32.7 % of total employment2007: 32.4 % of total employment2008: 32.3 % of total employment2009: 32.6 % of total employment2010: 32.5 % of total employment2011: 31.9 % of total employment2012: 31.8 % of total employment2013: 31.9 % of total employment2014: 31.8 % of total employment2015: 32 % of total employment2016: 32 % of total employment

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

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, total in World stood at 32.0%.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in World peaked at 33.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 31.8%, in 2012.

Own-account workers, total in World, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in World, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 32.7%
1992 32.7% +0.0%
1993 32.8% +0.3%
1994 32.8% -0.1%
1995 32.9% +0.3%
1996 32.9% -0.0%
1997 32.9% +0.3%
1998 33.1% +0.6%
1999 33.2% +0.2%
2000 33.0% -0.5%
2001 33.1% +0.2%
2002 33.1% -0.0%
2003 33.1% +0.1%
2004 33.0% -0.3%
2005 33.0% -0.1%
2006 32.7% -0.9%
2007 32.4% -1.0%
2008 32.3% -0.2%
2009 32.6% +0.9%
2010 32.5% -0.3%
2011 31.9% -1.8%
2012 31.8% -0.4%
2013 31.9% +0.4%
2014 31.8% -0.2%
2015 32.0% +0.5%
2016 32.0% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 32.9% 32.7% 33.2% 9
2000s 32.8% 32.3% 33.1% 10
2010s 32.0% 31.8% 32.5% 7

Countries ranked near World

  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 World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in World?
Own-account workers, total in World was 32.0% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 33.2% in 1999.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 31.8% in 2012.
How does World rank for own-account workers, total?
World ranks 1st out of 3 groups with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/world/

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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