Self-employed persons by occupation in Ireland
Ireland: Self-employed persons by occupation was 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
350.2 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
25th
of 45 countries
All-time high
350.2 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
226.3 Thousand persons
in 1985
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 350.2 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by occupation in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 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 occupation in Ireland peaked at 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 226.3 Thousand persons, in 1985.
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 43 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 233.7 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 233.8 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 226.3 Thousand persons | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 228.1 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 232.1 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 240.3 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 238.2 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 252 Thousand persons | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 239.5 Thousand persons | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 251.6 Thousand persons | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 246.6 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 249.8 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 257 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 254.2 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 262.9 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 278.6 Thousand persons | +6.0% |
| 1999 | 281.1 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 292.6 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 293.6 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 296.9 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 294.8 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 310.8 Thousand persons | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 313.3 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 314.5 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 338.9 Thousand persons | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 345.1 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 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% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 350.2 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 82% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 350.2 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 73% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 233.21 Thousand persons | 226.3 Thousand persons | 240.3 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 257.33 Thousand persons | 239.5 Thousand persons | 281.1 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 312.85 Thousand persons | 292.6 Thousand persons | 345.1 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 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 occupation in Ireland?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Ireland was 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 350.2 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 226.3 Thousand persons in 1985.
- How does Ireland rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Ireland ranks 25th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation 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 occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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