Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Belize
Belize: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 29.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Belize, 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 Belize is 29.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Belize peaked at 32.3% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 2014.
That places Belize 91st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Belize, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 31.1% | — |
| 1992 | 31.1% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 31.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 31.1% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 31.1% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 32.3% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 32.0% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 31.7% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 31.3% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 30.8% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 30.4% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 30.0% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 29.8% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 29.5% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 29.1% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 29.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 29.0% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 29.1% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 29.3% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 29.3% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 29.5% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 29.5% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 23.9% | -19.2% |
| 2015 | 26.2% | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 29.9% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 26.1% | -12.9% |
| 2019 | 30.0% | +15.0% |
| 2020 | 30.7% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 30.3% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 30.1% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 30.2% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 30.0% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 29.8% | -0.5% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 29.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Belize's 29.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.4% | 31.0% | 32.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.6% | 29.0% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.1% | 23.9% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.2% | 29.8% | 30.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More work & labour data for Belize
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7058 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6517 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.152 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 338.14 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 254.28 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 219.33 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 228.04 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 447.37 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Belize?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Belize was 29.8% 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 Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 32.3% in 1996.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 2014.
- How does Belize rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Belize ranks 91st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belize 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).