Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 38.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
38.9%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
68th
of 186 countries
All-time high
42.7%
in 2005
All-time low
38.9%
in 2025
Years of data
35
1991–2025

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

0102030401991200820251991: 40.4 %1992: 40.5 %1993: 40.6 %1994: 40.6 %1995: 40.5 %1996: 40.3 %1997: 40.1 %1998: 40 %1999: 39.8 %2000: 39.7 %2001: 39.5 %2002: 40.3 %2003: 41.2 %2004: 41.9 %2005: 42.7 %2006: 42.4 %2007: 42.1 %2008: 41.8 %2009: 41.8 %2010: 41.6 %2011: 41.3 %2012: 41.1 %2013: 40.8 %2014: 40.5 %2015: 40.2 %2016: 40 %2017: 39.7 %2018: 39.6 %2019: 39.6 %2020: 40.3 %2021: 39.8 %2022: 39.6 %2023: 39.3 %2024: 39.1 %2025: 38.9 %

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 Nicaragua stood at 38.9%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.

The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nicaragua peaked at 42.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 38.9%, in 2025.

Nicaragua ranks 68th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 40.3% 39.8% 40.6% 9
2000s 41.3% 39.5% 42.7% 10
2010s 40.4% 39.6% 41.6% 10
2020s 39.5% 38.9% 40.3% 6

Countries ranked near Nicaragua

  1. 65 Iran 39.5% compare
  2. 66 Rwanda 39.4% compare
  3. 67 Sri Lanka 39.2% compare
  4. 69 Syria 38.9% compare
  5. 70 Mongolia 38.4% compare
  6. 71 Dominican Republic 38.0% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Nicaragua

All data for Nicaragua →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nicaragua?
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nicaragua was 38.9% 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 Nicaragua?
The highest recorded value was 42.7% in 2005.
What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Nicaragua?
The lowest recorded value was 38.9% in 2025.
How does Nicaragua rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
Nicaragua ranks 68th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Nicaragua?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Nicaragua 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

CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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).