Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Western Europe
Western Europe: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 2.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Western Europe, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Europe is 2.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Europe peaked at 5.2% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2021.
That places Western Europe 36th out of 36 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Western Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4.6% | — |
| 2005 | 4.5% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | -10.4% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | -31.7% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | +9.2% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2.5% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 6 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Europe
- 33 Colombia 56.0% compare
- 34 Namibia 55.6% compare
- 35 Jordan 55.1% compare
- 36 Dominican Republic 54.7% compare
- 37 Jamaica 54.6% compare
- 38 Republic of Moldova 52.2% compare
- 38 Republic of Moldova 52.2% compare
More work & labour data for Western Europe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 91,861 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0749 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0476 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 25,875 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 173,621 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 185,317 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 93,457 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Europe?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Europe was 2.5% 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 Western Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2010.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2021.
- How does Western Europe rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- Western Europe ranks 36th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Europe 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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