Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Eritrea
Eritrea: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 47.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Eritrea, 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 Eritrea stood at 47.9%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Eritrea peaked at 51.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 2025.
Eritrea ranks 56th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Eritrea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 51.5% | — |
| 1992 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 51.3% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 50.9% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 50.5% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 50.2% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 49.8% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 49.6% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 49.4% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 49.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 49.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 49.1% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 49.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 49.2% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 49.3% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 49.3% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 49.2% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 49.1% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 48.8% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 48.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 48.7% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 48.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 49.1% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 48.7% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 48.5% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 48.3% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 48.1% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 47.9% | -0.4% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 47.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 62% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 47.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 71% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.5% | 49.4% | 51.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 49.2% | 49.1% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.9% | 48.5% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.4% | 47.9% | 49.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More work & labour data for Eritrea
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.291 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0037 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,776 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3,830 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,254 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,190 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 8,444 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Eritrea?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Eritrea was 47.9% 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 Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 2025.
- How does Eritrea rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Eritrea ranks 56th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eritrea 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.
Download this data
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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).