Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 81.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan is 81.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan peaked at 95.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 80.6%, in 2021.
That places Afghanistan 9th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 95.3% | — |
| 1992 | 95.4% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 95.4% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 95.5% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 95.5% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 95.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 95.3% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 95.1% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 94.9% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 94.7% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 94.6% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 94.4% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 94.1% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 93.9% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 93.5% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 93.2% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 92.7% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 92.4% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 91.2% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 90.0% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 89.0% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 87.9% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 86.5% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 85.1% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 84.1% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 83.3% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 82.2% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 82.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 82.4% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 82.7% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 80.6% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 81.1% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 81.5% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 81.7% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 81.8% | +0.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 81.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 81.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.4%, 4.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 95.3% | 94.9% | 95.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 93.5% | 91.2% | 94.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.3% | 82.2% | 90.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.6% | 80.6% | 82.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 6 Mozambique 83.7% compare
- 7 Burundi 83.7% compare
- 8 Tanzania 83.7% compare
- 10 Democratic Republic of Congo 81.5% compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 80.6% compare
- 12 South Sudan 80.3% compare
More work & labour data for Afghanistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4511 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.088 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,498 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 36,430 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,039 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 65,177 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,217 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Afghanistan was 81.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 95.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.6% in 2021.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Afghanistan ranks 9th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).