Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 6.5% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
6.5%
Change on year
down 27.7%
World rank
63rd
of 92 countries
All-time high
10.8%
in 2008
All-time low
2.5%
in 2010
Years of data
12
2007–2018

Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2007–2018

2468102007201220182007: 9.52008: 10.82009: 10.12010: 2.52011: 4.12012: 5.22013: 4.42014: 4.22015: 4.22016: 42017: 92018: 6.5

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2018, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 6.5%.

The figure is down 27.7% on the previous year and down 39.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 10.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2010.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 63rd of 92 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2007 to 2018.
Year Value Change
2007 9.5%
2008 10.8% +13.8%
2009 10.1% -6.9%
2010 2.5% -75.2%
2011 4.1% +64.8%
2012 5.2% +26.7%
2013 4.4% -15.9%
2014 4.2% -5.2%
2015 4.2% +0.2%
2016 4.0% -3.1%
2017 9.0% +122.8%
2018 6.5% -27.7%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 6.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.3%, 2.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 6.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 2.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.1% 9.5% 10.8% 3
2010s 4.9% 2.5% 9.0% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 60 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.6% compare
  2. 61 North Macedonia 11.1% compare
  3. 62 Poland 8.6% compare
  4. 63 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6.5% compare
  5. 65 Portugal 4.7% compare
  6. 66 Slovakia 4.4% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6.5% in 2018, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 10.8% in 2008.
What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2010.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 63rd out of 92 countries with data for 2018.
Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.

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Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-informal-employment-by-sector-and-sex-13th-icls-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
128 places, 2,151 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed