Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Ireland
Ireland: Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) was 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Ireland, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Ireland is 350.2 Thousand persons, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Ireland peaked at 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 294.3 Thousand persons, in 2012.
Ireland ranks 25th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 345.1 Thousand persons | — |
| 2009 | 328 Thousand persons | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 308.1 Thousand persons | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 298.9 Thousand persons | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 294.3 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 307.3 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 312.1 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 315.3 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 321.3 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 317.8 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 317.7 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 315.5 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 310 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 308.4 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 331.4 Thousand persons | +7.5% |
| 2023 | 331.1 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 332.6 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 350.2 Thousand persons | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 336.55 Thousand persons | 328 Thousand persons | 345.1 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 310.83 Thousand persons | 294.3 Thousand persons | 321.3 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 327.28 Thousand persons | 308.4 Thousand persons | 350.2 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Ireland?
- Self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Ireland was 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 294.3 Thousand persons in 2012.
- How does Ireland rank for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2)?
- Ireland ranks 25th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. 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 economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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