Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland
Poland: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 15.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland is 15.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland peaked at 29.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 2025.
That places Poland 129th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 26.7% | — |
| 1992 | 29.1% | +9.3% |
| 1993 | 29.9% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 29.8% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 28.6% | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 28.4% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 28.3% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 28.1% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 28.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 28.7% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 29.4% | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 29.4% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 28.5% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 28.0% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 26.9% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 24.6% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 24.0% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 23.7% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 23.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 23.6% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 23.1% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 22.4% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 21.8% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 21.6% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 21.0% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 20.6% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 20.4% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 20.0% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 19.1% | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 17.8% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 16.6% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | -8.8% |
| 2025 | 15.0% | -0.8% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 15.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 1.6× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Poland's 15.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.5% | 26.7% | 29.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.9% | 23.7% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.9% | 20.0% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 15.0% | 20.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More work & labour data for Poland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0452 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,799 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 9,591 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,786 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,544 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 19,330 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Poland was 15.0% 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 2025.
- How does Poland rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Poland ranks 129th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Poland 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).