Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mali
Mali: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 75.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mali, 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 Mali stood at 75.8%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mali peaked at 85.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 75.8%, in 2025.
That places Mali 21st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mali, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 85.9% | — |
| 1992 | 85.7% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 85.6% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 85.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 85.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 85.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 85.0% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 84.8% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 84.5% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 84.3% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 84.0% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 83.7% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 83.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 83.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 82.9% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 82.7% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 82.6% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 82.4% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 82.2% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 82.0% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 81.9% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 81.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 81.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 81.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 80.2% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 79.7% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 80.4% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 82.2% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 85.0% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 80.6% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 76.6% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 76.4% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 76.3% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 75.8% | -0.7% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 75.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 99% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 75.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.3% | 84.5% | 85.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 83.1% | 82.2% | 84.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.3% | 79.7% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.4% | 75.8% | 85.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More work & labour data for Mali
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3606 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 27,825 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,195 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 40,192 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,162 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 79,354 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mali?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mali was 75.8% 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 Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 85.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.8% in 2025.
- How does Mali rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Mali ranks 21st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mali 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).