Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland

Ireland: Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation was 300.4 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
300.4 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
25th
of 45 countries
All-time high
322.5 Thousand persons
in 2008
All-time low
234.6 Thousand persons
in 1996
Years of data
31
1995–2025

Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland, 1995–2025

01002003001995201020251995: 236.2 Thousand persons1996: 234.6 Thousand persons1997: 243.8 Thousand persons1998: 258.6 Thousand persons1999: 262.4 Thousand persons2000: 273.8 Thousand persons2001: 275.4 Thousand persons2002: 277.9 Thousand persons2003: 276.3 Thousand persons2004: 293.2 Thousand persons2005: 295.4 Thousand persons2006: 296.6 Thousand persons2007: 317.6 Thousand persons2008: 322.5 Thousand persons2009: 305.8 Thousand persons2010: 285.7 Thousand persons2011: 275.6 Thousand persons2012: 268.6 Thousand persons2013: 280.1 Thousand persons2014: 283.8 Thousand persons2015: 284.9 Thousand persons2016: 288.7 Thousand persons2017: 284.1 Thousand persons2018: 282 Thousand persons2019: 279.1 Thousand persons2020: 271.4 Thousand persons2021: 264.3 Thousand persons2022: 290.6 Thousand persons2023: 286.3 Thousand persons2024: 287.2 Thousand persons2025: 300.4 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

In 2025, self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland stood at 300.4 Thousand persons.

That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland peaked at 322.5 Thousand persons in 2008 and was at its lowest, 234.6 Thousand persons, in 1996.

That places Ireland 25th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.

Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland, 1995 to 2025.
Year Thousand persons Change
1995 236.2 Thousand persons
1996 234.6 Thousand persons -0.7%
1997 243.8 Thousand persons +3.9%
1998 258.6 Thousand persons +6.1%
1999 262.4 Thousand persons +1.5%
2000 273.8 Thousand persons +4.3%
2001 275.4 Thousand persons +0.6%
2002 277.9 Thousand persons +0.9%
2003 276.3 Thousand persons -0.6%
2004 293.2 Thousand persons +6.1%
2005 295.4 Thousand persons +0.8%
2006 296.6 Thousand persons +0.4%
2007 317.6 Thousand persons +7.1%
2008 322.5 Thousand persons +1.5%
2009 305.8 Thousand persons -5.2%
2010 285.7 Thousand persons -6.6%
2011 275.6 Thousand persons -3.5%
2012 268.6 Thousand persons -2.5%
2013 280.1 Thousand persons +4.3%
2014 283.8 Thousand persons +1.3%
2015 284.9 Thousand persons +0.4%
2016 288.7 Thousand persons +1.3%
2017 284.1 Thousand persons -1.6%
2018 282 Thousand persons -0.7%
2019 279.1 Thousand persons -1.0%
2020 271.4 Thousand persons -2.8%
2021 264.3 Thousand persons -2.6%
2022 290.6 Thousand persons +10.0%
2023 286.3 Thousand persons -1.5%
2024 287.2 Thousand persons +0.3%
2025 300.4 Thousand persons +4.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 247.12 Thousand persons 234.6 Thousand persons 262.4 Thousand persons 5
2000s 293.45 Thousand persons 273.8 Thousand persons 322.5 Thousand persons 10
2010s 281.26 Thousand persons 268.6 Thousand persons 288.7 Thousand persons 10
2020s 283.37 Thousand persons 264.3 Thousand persons 300.4 Thousand persons 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 22 Slovakia 382.8 Thousand persons compare
  2. 22 Slovakia 382.8 Thousand persons compare
  3. 24 Bulgaria 344.5 Thousand persons compare
  4. 26 Finland 263.1 Thousand persons compare
  5. 27 Croatia 199.4 Thousand persons compare
  6. 27 Croatia 199.4 Thousand persons compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland?
Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland was 300.4 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 322.5 Thousand persons in 2008.
What is the lowest self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 234.6 Thousand persons in 1996.
How does Ireland rank for self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation?
Ireland ranks 25th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/self-employed-persons-by-citizenship-and-degree-of-urbanisation/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,285 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed