Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Guatemala
Guatemala: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 36.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Guatemala, 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 Guatemala stood at 36.2%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Guatemala peaked at 42.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 33.8%, in 2019.
Guatemala ranks 74th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 38.4% | — |
| 1992 | 38.2% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 38.1% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 38.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 38.0% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 38.0% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 38.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 37.9% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 38.6% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 39.3% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 39.2% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 39.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 38.9% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 38.7% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 38.6% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 38.4% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 38.1% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 37.6% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 34.3% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 38.1% | +11.1% |
| 2013 | 38.0% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 37.8% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 34.6% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 37.7% | +8.9% |
| 2018 | 37.9% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 33.8% | -10.9% |
| 2020 | 38.3% | +13.3% |
| 2021 | 42.0% | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 39.2% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 36.6% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 36.4% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 36.2% | -0.6% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 36.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 36.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.1% | 37.9% | 38.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.6% | 37.8% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.7% | 33.8% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.1% | 36.2% | 42.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More work & labour data for Guatemala
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.3404 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.3121 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.3683 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6261 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.73 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 18,121 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 8,847 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 13,041 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 12,871 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 25,912 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Guatemala?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Guatemala was 36.2% 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 42.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.8% in 2019.
- How does Guatemala rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Guatemala ranks 74th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Guatemala 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).