Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador

Ecuador: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 50.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
50.1%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
53rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
52.2%
in 2021
All-time low
42.7%
in 2008
Years of data
35
1991–2025

Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ecuador, 1991–2025

02040601991200820251991: 46.6 %1992: 47.5 %1993: 46.9 %1994: 46 %1995: 46.1 %1996: 47.2 %1997: 45.3 %1998: 46.2 %1999: 46.2 %2000: 46.2 %2001: 46.2 %2002: 44.9 %2003: 43.6 %2004: 45.8 %2005: 43.8 %2006: 43.5 %2007: 43.3 %2008: 42.7 %2009: 44.4 %2010: 43.9 %2011: 45.9 %2012: 45.6 %2013: 45 %2014: 42.7 %2015: 44.9 %2016: 48.6 %2017: 49.7 %2018: 50.3 %2019: 51.7 %2020: 52 %2021: 52.2 %2022: 51 %2023: 48.6 %2024: 50.2 %2025: 50.1 %

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 50 Mauritania 53.3% compare
  2. 51 Cambodia 52.3% compare
  3. 52 Vietnam 51.4% compare
  4. 54 Indonesia 50.0% compare
  5. 55 Thailand 48.0% compare
  6. 56 Eritrea 47.9% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Ecuador

All data for Ecuador →

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

Indicator
Share of workers in vulnerable employment
Unit
%
Source
International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,496 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

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).