Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 35.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Sao Tome and Principe, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 35.0% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 42.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2019.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 77th 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 Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 42.2% | — |
| 1992 | 42.1% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 41.9% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 41.7% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 41.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 41.3% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 41.2% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 40.9% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 40.6% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 40.4% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 40.0% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 39.8% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 39.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 39.1% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 38.8% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 37.7% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 37.4% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 36.8% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 36.2% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 36.1% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 35.9% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 35.5% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 35.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 35.1% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 34.8% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 34.5% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 34.3% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 35.9% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 35.4% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 35.2% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 35.1% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 35.1% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 35.0% | -0.2% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 35.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 59% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 35.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 52% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.5% | 40.6% | 42.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.8% | 36.8% | 40.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.4% | 34.3% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.3% | 35.0% | 35.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More work & labour data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2544 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2707 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0643 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.73 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 323.75 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 56 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 271.01 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 534.01 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Sao Tome and Principe was 35.0% 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 42.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2019.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 77th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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).