Share of workers in informal employment in Ecuador
Ecuador: Share of workers in informal employment was 68.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Ecuador, 2001–2025
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ecuador recorded 68.5% for share of workers in informal employment in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Ecuador peaked at 76.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 57.9%, in 2014.
Ecuador ranks 21st of 82 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 76.1% | — |
| 2003 | 74.7% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 75.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 74.7% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 74.8% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 74.2% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 72.6% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 70.3% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 66.8% | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 63.4% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 61.2% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 60.0% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 57.9% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 58.2% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 61.0% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 62.5% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 62.6% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 63.5% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 68.6% | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 68.7% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 68.2% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 68.6% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 68.5% | -0.3% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 68.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54.7%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 68.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 56.0%, 1.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 74.1% | 70.3% | 76.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 61.7% | 57.9% | 66.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.5% | 68.2% | 68.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More work & labour data for Ecuador
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.578 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.567 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.589 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.04 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 17,174 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,794 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,543 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,549 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 19,092 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in Ecuador?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Ecuador was 68.5% in 2025, 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 76.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.9% in 2014.
- How does Ecuador rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Ecuador ranks 21st out of 82 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.