Share of workers in vulnerable employment in South Sudan
South Sudan: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 80.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
80.3%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
12th
of 186 countries
All-time high
83.7%
in 1991
All-time low
79.9%
in 2008
Years of data
33
1991–2023
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in South Sudan, 1991–2023
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 80.3% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in South Sudan peaked at 83.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 79.9%, in 2008.
South Sudan ranks 12th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 83.7% | — |
| 1992 | 83.0% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 82.3% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 82.2% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 82.1% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 81.5% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 81.0% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 80.7% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 80.5% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 80.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 80.2% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 80.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 80.1% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 80.0% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 79.9% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 79.9% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 80.3% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 80.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 80.8% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 82.2% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 82.8% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 82.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 82.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 83.0% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 82.6% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 82.1% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 81.5% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 81.7% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 81.1% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 80.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 80.3% | -0.3% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 80.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 80.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.1% | 80.7% | 83.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 80.1% | 79.9% | 80.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 80.5% | 83.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.9% | 80.3% | 81.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 9 Afghanistan 81.8% compare
- 10 Democratic Republic of Congo 81.5% compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 80.6% compare
- 13 Central African Republic 79.4% compare
- 14 Guinea 79.2% compare
- 15 Benin 78.5% compare
More work & labour data for South Sudan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0087 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6635 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,132 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,235 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 12,299 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 11,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 23,841 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in South Sudan?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in South Sudan was 80.3% in 2023, 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 South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 83.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.9% in 2008.
- How does South Sudan rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- South Sudan ranks 12th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Sudan 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).