Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Estonia
Estonia: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 7.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Estonia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 7.1% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Estonia peaked at 10.7% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2022.
Estonia ranks 166th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Estonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.0% | — |
| 1992 | 9.3% | +16.7% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | +14.5% |
| 1994 | 10.6% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 10.0% | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 10.2% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 9.3% | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 9.3% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 8.8% | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 8.7% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 8.4% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 8.4% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 7.7% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 7.5% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 7.3% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 7.3% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 7.1% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 7.0% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 7.1% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 7.1% | -0.1% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 7.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 75% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 7.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.7% | 8.0% | 10.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 6.8% | 7.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Estonia?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Estonia was 7.1% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.7% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2022.
- How does Estonia rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Estonia ranks 166th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia 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).