Share of workers in informal employment in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of workers in informal employment was 84.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Bangladesh, 2010–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 84.0% for share of workers in informal employment in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Bangladesh peaked at 94.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 84.0%, in 2024.
That places Bangladesh 10th out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of workers in informal employment in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 86.4% | — |
| 2013 | 89.3% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 94.4% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 84.9% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 84.1% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 84.0% | -0.1% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 84.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 83.9%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 90.0% | 86.4% | 94.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 84.4% | 84.0% | 84.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More work & labour data for Bangladesh
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5215 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 117,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 84,090 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 104,333 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 104,263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 208,597 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in Bangladesh?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Bangladesh was 84.0% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 94.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.0% in 2024.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Bangladesh ranks 10th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.