Self-employed persons by occupation in Italy
Italy: Self-employed persons by occupation was 4,943 Thousand persons in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
4,943 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
2nd
of 45 countries
All-time high
5,665 Thousand persons
in 2004
All-time low
4,621 Thousand persons
in 2021
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Italy, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Italy recorded 4,943 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by occupation in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Italy peaked at 5,665 Thousand persons in 2004 and was at its lowest, 4,621 Thousand persons, in 2021.
Italy ranks 2nd of 45 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Italy, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 4,892 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 4,957 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 4,914 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 4,898 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 5,009 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 5,152 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 5,087 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 5,117 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 5,193 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 4,910 Thousand persons | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 4,830 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 4,822 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 4,887 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 4,944 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 4,926 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 4,945 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 5,008 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 5,044 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 5,025 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 5,058 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 5,094 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 5,665 Thousand persons | +11.2% |
| 2005 | 5,525 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 5,554 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 5,521 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 5,438 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 5,270 Thousand persons | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 5,281 Thousand persons | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 5,255 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 5,246 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 5,144 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 5,128 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 5,110 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 5,070 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 4,985 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 4,943 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 4,910 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 4,773 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 4,621 Thousand persons | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 4,705 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 4,746 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 4,786 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 4,943 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 4,943 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 11.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Italy's 4,943 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 10.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,987 Thousand persons | 4,892 Thousand persons | 5,152 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 4,958 Thousand persons | 4,822 Thousand persons | 5,193 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,319 Thousand persons | 5,025 Thousand persons | 5,665 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,107 Thousand persons | 4,910 Thousand persons | 5,281 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,762 Thousand persons | 4,621 Thousand persons | 4,943 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 1 Türkiye 6,641 Thousand persons compare
- 3 United Kingdom 4,881 Thousand persons compare
- 3 United Kingdom 4,881 Thousand persons compare
- 5 France 3,865 Thousand persons compare
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-employed persons by occupation in Italy?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Italy was 4,943 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 5,665 Thousand persons in 2004.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,621 Thousand persons in 2021.
- How does Italy rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Italy ranks 2nd out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy 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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