Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 81.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 81.5% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 83.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 78.8%, in 1991.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 10th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 78.8% | — |
| 1992 | 79.3% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 79.9% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 80.4% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 80.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 81.1% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 81.4% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 81.7% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 81.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 82.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 82.2% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 82.3% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 82.3% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 82.2% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 82.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 81.8% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 81.6% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 81.3% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 81.2% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 80.9% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 80.8% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 80.6% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 80.8% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 80.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 81.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 81.2% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 81.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 81.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 82.0% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 83.1% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 82.6% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 82.3% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 82.1% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 81.8% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 81.5% | -0.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 81.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 81.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.6% | 78.8% | 81.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 81.9% | 81.2% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.1% | 80.6% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.2% | 81.5% | 83.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 7 Burundi 83.7% compare
- 8 Tanzania 83.7% compare
- 9 Afghanistan 81.8% compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 80.6% compare
- 12 South Sudan 80.3% compare
- 13 Central African Republic 79.4% compare
More work & labour data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 23,407 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 64.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 41,856 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.48 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 4,595 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 1,696 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 61.26 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.69 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Democratic Republic of Congo was 81.5% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 83.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.8% in 1991.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 10th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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).