Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) was 4,380 Thousand persons in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
4,380 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
3rd
of 45 countries
All-time high
4,962 Thousand persons
in 2019
All-time low
3,813 Thousand persons
in 2008
Years of data
13
2008–2020

Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom, 2008–2020

01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k5.0k2008201420202008: 3.8k Thousand persons2009: 3.9k Thousand persons2010: 4.0k Thousand persons2011: 4.1k Thousand persons2012: 4.2k Thousand persons2013: 4.3k Thousand persons2014: 4.4k Thousand persons2015: 4.6k Thousand persons2016: 4.7k Thousand persons2017: 4.7k Thousand persons2018: 4.7k Thousand persons2019: 5.0k Thousand persons2020: 4.4k Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 4,380 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in 2020.

The figure is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom peaked at 4,962 Thousand persons in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3,813 Thousand persons, in 2008.

That places United Kingdom 3rd out of 45 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) - quarterly data in United Kingdom, 2008 to 2020.
Year Thousand persons Change
2008 3,813 Thousand persons
2009 3,894 Thousand persons +2.1%
2010 3,972 Thousand persons +2.0%
2011 4,074 Thousand persons +2.6%
2012 4,194 Thousand persons +3.0%
2013 4,348 Thousand persons +3.7%
2014 4,439 Thousand persons +2.1%
2015 4,574 Thousand persons +3.0%
2016 4,728 Thousand persons +3.4%
2017 4,710 Thousand persons -0.4%
2018 4,730 Thousand persons +0.4%
2019 4,962 Thousand persons +4.9%
2020 4,380 Thousand persons -11.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3,854 Thousand persons 3,813 Thousand persons 3,894 Thousand persons 2
2010s 4,473 Thousand persons 3,972 Thousand persons 4,962 Thousand persons 10
2020s 4,380 Thousand persons 4,380 Thousand persons 4,380 Thousand persons 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 1 Türkiye 6,484 Thousand persons compare
  2. 2 Italy 5,059 Thousand persons compare
  3. 3 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4,380 Thousand persons compare
  4. 5 France 3,902 Thousand persons compare
  5. 6 Germany 3,295 Thousand persons compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom?
Self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom was 4,380 Thousand persons in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 4,962 Thousand persons in 2019.
What is the lowest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 3,813 Thousand persons in 2008.
How does United Kingdom rank for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026)?
United Kingdom ranks 3rd out of 45 countries with data for 2020.
Is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/self-employed-persons-by-economic-activity-nace-rev-2-2008-2026-quarterly-data/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) - quarterly data
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 853 data points, 2008–2026
Last refreshed