Share of workers in informal employment in Spain
Spain: Share of workers in informal employment was 2.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Spain, 2007–2023
Source: International Labour Organization – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of workers in informal employment in Spain stood at 2.0%. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is down 24.1% on the previous year and down 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Spain peaked at 8.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2023.
Spain ranks 69th of 80 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.4% | 2.4% | 8.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 3.1% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.0% | 4.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 62.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 52.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 75.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 71.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in Spain?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Spain was 2.0% in 2023, according to International Labour Organization – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2023.
- How does Spain rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Spain ranks 69th out of 80 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with major 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 — 17 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.