Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador
Ecuador: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 50.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador, 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 Ecuador is 50.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador peaked at 52.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 42.7%, in 2008.
Ecuador ranks 53rd of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Ecuador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 46.6% | — |
| 1992 | 47.5% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 46.9% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 46.0% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 46.1% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 47.2% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 45.3% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 46.2% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 46.2% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 46.2% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 46.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 44.9% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 43.6% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 45.8% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 43.8% | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 43.5% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 43.3% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 42.7% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 44.4% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 43.9% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 45.9% | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 45.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 45.0% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 42.7% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 44.9% | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 48.6% | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 49.7% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 50.3% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 51.7% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 52.0% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 52.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 51.0% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 48.6% | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 50.2% | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 50.1% | -0.1% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 50.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.7× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 50.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 1.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.4% | 45.3% | 47.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 44.4% | 42.7% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.8% | 42.7% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.7% | 48.6% | 52.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More work & labour data for Ecuador
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.578 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.567 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.589 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.04 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 17,174 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,794 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,543 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,549 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 19,092 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador was 50.1% 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 52.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.7% in 2008.
- How does Ecuador rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Ecuador ranks 53rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ecuador 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).