Self-employed persons by occupation in Estonia
Estonia: Self-employed persons by occupation was 76.3 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
76.3 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 7.6%
World rank
41st
of 47 countries
All-time high
82.6 Thousand persons
in 2024
All-time low
37.6 Thousand persons
in 2002
Years of data
29
1997–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Estonia, 1997–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 76.3 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by occupation in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.6% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Estonia peaked at 82.6 Thousand persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 37.6 Thousand persons, in 2002.
That places Estonia 41st out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Estonia, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 38 Thousand persons | — |
| 1998 | 48.3 Thousand persons | +27.1% |
| 1999 | 46.9 Thousand persons | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 44.8 Thousand persons | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 39.8 Thousand persons | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 37.6 Thousand persons | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 48.6 Thousand persons | +29.3% |
| 2004 | 56.2 Thousand persons | +15.6% |
| 2005 | 47.3 Thousand persons | -15.8% |
| 2006 | 51.9 Thousand persons | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 58.8 Thousand persons | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 50.6 Thousand persons | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 48.5 Thousand persons | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 47 Thousand persons | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 51 Thousand persons | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 52.6 Thousand persons | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 55.2 Thousand persons | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 55.6 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 58 Thousand persons | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 59.1 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 63.7 Thousand persons | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 67.6 Thousand persons | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 70.6 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 68.4 Thousand persons | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 69.5 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 69.5 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 75.4 Thousand persons | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 82.6 Thousand persons | +9.5% |
| 2025 | 76.3 Thousand persons | -7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.4 Thousand persons | 38 Thousand persons | 48.3 Thousand persons | 3 |
| 2000s | 48.41 Thousand persons | 37.6 Thousand persons | 58.8 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.04 Thousand persons | 47 Thousand persons | 70.6 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.62 Thousand persons | 68.4 Thousand persons | 82.6 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
- 39 North Macedonia 101.8 Thousand persons compare
- 39 North Macedonia 101.8 Thousand persons compare
- 41 Estonia 76.3 Thousand persons compare
- 43 Cyprus 46.5 Thousand persons compare
- 44 Malta 44.4 Thousand persons compare
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 42.7 Persons (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 21.94 Persons (2022)
- Employment rates by educational attainment level, country of birth 75.4% (2025)
- Employed persons by job tenure and NUTS 2 region 693.1 Thousand persons (2025)
- Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level 81.7% (2025)
- Population in private households by citizenship, labour status and 1,012 Thousand persons (2025)
- Employed persons by educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region 693.1 Thousand persons (2025)
- Employed persons by professional status and NUTS 2 region 693.1 Thousand persons (2025)
- Average actual weekly hours worked in the main job of persons who 35.6 Hour (2025)
- Employed persons by NUTS 2 region 693.1 Thousand persons (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-employed persons by occupation in Estonia?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Estonia was 76.3 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.6 Thousand persons in 2024.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.6 Thousand persons in 2002.
- How does Estonia rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Estonia ranks 41st out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Estonia data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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