Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in South America
South America: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 46.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
46.9%
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
23rd
of 36 groups
All-time high
50.6%
in 2004
All-time low
46.6%
in 2014
Years of data
22
2004–2025
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in South America, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South America recorded 46.9% for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in South America peaked at 50.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 46.6%, in 2014.
That places South America 23rd out of 36 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 50.6% | — |
| 2005 | 50.2% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 49.7% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 49.0% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 48.7% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.6% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 48.2% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 47.7% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 47.4% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 46.9% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 46.6% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 47.8% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 48.3% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 47.1% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 48.6% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 48.0% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 47.4% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 47.1% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 46.9% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.5% | 48.6% | 50.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 47.5% | 46.6% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.5% | 46.9% | 48.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South America
More work & labour data for South America
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 188,449 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6536 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6333 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6731 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3248 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 49,401 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 450,619 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 379,097 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 190,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in South America?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in South America was 46.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 50.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.6% in 2014.
- How does South America rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- South America ranks 23rd out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South America data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).