Share of workers in informal employment in Italy
Italy: Share of workers in informal employment was 3.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in informal employment in Italy, 2007–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in informal employment in Italy is 3.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Italy peaked at 4.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2009.
Italy ranks 59th of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3.2% | — |
| 2008 | 3.5% | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | +12.9% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | +37.6% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -14.1% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +11.1% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | +7.3% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -14.4% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +18.8% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -16.1% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -8.2% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | -2.0% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 3.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 1.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Italy's 3.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 3.5% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.4% | 4.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
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 share of workers in informal employment in Italy?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Italy was 3.4% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2009.
- How does Italy rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Italy ranks 59th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.