Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 66.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria stood at 66.5%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nigeria peaked at 75.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 66.5%, in 2025.
That places Nigeria 33rd 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 75.3% | — |
| 1992 | 75.0% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 74.9% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 74.8% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 74.5% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 74.3% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 74.3% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 74.4% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 74.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 73.9% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 73.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 73.4% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 72.8% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 72.2% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 71.7% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 71.3% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 70.9% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 70.4% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 70.1% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 69.5% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 69.0% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 68.7% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 68.4% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 68.1% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 67.9% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 67.8% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 67.4% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 67.1% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 66.9% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 68.0% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 67.4% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 67.2% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 67.0% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 66.7% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 66.5% | -0.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 66.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 66.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.6% | 74.2% | 75.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 72.1% | 70.1% | 73.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.1% | 66.9% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.1% | 66.5% | 68.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nigeria?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nigeria was 66.5% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.5% in 2025.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Nigeria ranks 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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).