Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 57.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bangladesh, 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 Bangladesh is 57.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bangladesh peaked at 68.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 2017.
That places Bangladesh 45th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 68.5% | — |
| 1992 | 68.3% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 68.0% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 67.8% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 67.5% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 67.3% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 67.0% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 66.7% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 66.5% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 66.2% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 65.9% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 65.6% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 65.2% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 64.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 64.5% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 64.2% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 63.7% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 63.2% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 62.6% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 62.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 61.3% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 60.4% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 59.6% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 58.7% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 57.9% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 57.0% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 56.2% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 56.3% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 56.4% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 57.4% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 57.7% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 57.8% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 58.2% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 57.7% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 57.3% | -0.7% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 57.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 57.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 63.2%, 91% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.5% | 66.5% | 68.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 64.6% | 62.6% | 66.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.6% | 56.2% | 62.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.7% | 57.3% | 58.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More work & labour data for Bangladesh
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5215 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 117,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 84,090 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 104,333 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 104,263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 208,597 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bangladesh?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bangladesh was 57.3% 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 Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 68.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 2017.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Bangladesh ranks 45th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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).