Self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Self-employed, male (% of male employment) was 70.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 70.0%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 70.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 66.2%, in 1991.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 11th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 66.2% | — |
| 1992 | 66.5% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 66.7% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 67.2% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 67.7% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 67.8% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 67.9% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 67.9% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 67.9% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 68.0% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 68.1% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 68.2% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 68.4% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 68.4% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 68.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 68.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 68.2% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 68.0% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 68.2% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 68.3% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 68.3% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 68.2% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 68.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 67.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 67.5% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 67.7% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 67.8% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 67.9% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 68.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 69.5% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 69.5% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 69.3% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 70.4% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 70.1% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 70.0% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.3% | 66.2% | 67.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 68.3% | 68.0% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.0% | 67.5% | 68.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.8% | 69.3% | 70.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 8 Ethiopia 82.6% compare
- 9 Tanzania, United Republic of 80.4% compare
- 10 South Sudan 80.3% compare
- 11 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 79.8% compare
- 12 Mozambique 78.9% compare
- 13 Burundi 78.7% compare
- 14 Burkina Faso 77.2% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 50.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Self-employed, male (% of male employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 70.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest self-employed, male (% of male employment) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 70.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest self-employed, male (% of male employment) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.2% in 1991.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for self-employed, male (% of male employment)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Self-employed, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Self-employed workers are those workers who, working on their own account or with one or a few partners or in cooperative, hold the type of jobs defined as a "self-employment jobs." i.e. jobs where the remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits derived from the goods and services produced. Self-employed workers include sub-categories of employers, own-account workers and members of producers' cooperatives and contributing family workers.