Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Rwanda
Rwanda: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 39.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 39.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Rwanda peaked at 48.1% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2021.
That places Rwanda 66th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.9% | — |
| 1992 | 47.9% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 47.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 47.8% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 48.1% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 48.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 48.0% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 47.8% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 47.7% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 47.4% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 47.0% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 46.6% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 46.2% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 45.9% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 45.5% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 45.2% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 44.9% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 44.6% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 44.3% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 44.0% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 43.7% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 43.5% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 43.2% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 43.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 42.8% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 42.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 42.2% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 42.1% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 41.9% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 42.5% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 37.1% | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 40.2% | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 39.8% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 39.4% | -1.2% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 39.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 51% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 39.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.9% | 47.7% | 48.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 45.8% | 44.3% | 47.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.9% | 41.9% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 37.1% | 42.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Rwanda?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Rwanda was 39.4% 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 48.1% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2021.
- How does Rwanda rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Rwanda ranks 66th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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).