Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia
Colombia: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 43.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia stood at 43.0%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia peaked at 45.4% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 37.8%, in 2005.
That places Colombia 61st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.7% | — |
| 1992 | 40.6% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 40.6% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 40.0% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 40.1% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 39.8% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 39.6% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 39.8% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 39.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 39.7% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 39.5% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 39.2% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 39.2% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 39.5% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 37.8% | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 39.6% | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 39.2% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 43.6% | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 45.3% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 45.0% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 45.4% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 44.9% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 44.4% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 43.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 43.7% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 43.9% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 44.0% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 44.3% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 42.8% | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 44.4% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 44.5% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 44.2% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 43.8% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 43.1% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 43.0% | -0.3% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 43.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 43.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.1% | 39.6% | 40.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 40.3% | 37.8% | 45.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.2% | 42.8% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.8% | 43.0% | 44.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Colombia was 43.0% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.4% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.8% in 2005.
- How does Colombia rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Colombia ranks 61st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Colombia 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).