Share of workers in informal employment in Uruguay
Uruguay: Share of workers in informal employment was 31.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Uruguay, 2006–2023
Source: International Labour Organization – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Uruguay recorded 31.8% for share of workers in informal employment in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 43.5% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Uruguay peaked at 44.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 2021.
Uruguay ranks 43rd of 80 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.4% | 42.4% | 44.4% | 4 |
| 2010s | 29.5% | 23.6% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.2% | 21.4% | 31.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- 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+) 65.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 77.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 72.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in Uruguay?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Uruguay was 31.8% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 44.4% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 2021.
- How does Uruguay rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Uruguay ranks 43rd out of 80 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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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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.