Vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia
South Asia: Vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) was 69.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia is 69.7%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia peaked at 83.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 69.7%, in 2025.
That places South Asia 11th out of 47 groups 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.
Vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 83.3% | — |
| 1992 | 83.1% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 82.9% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 82.6% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 82.4% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 82.1% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 81.8% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 81.7% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 81.4% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 81.2% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 81.1% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 81.0% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 80.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 80.7% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 80.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 80.3% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 80.0% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 79.6% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 79.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 78.1% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 76.9% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 76.4% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 75.8% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 75.1% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 74.4% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 73.7% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 73.1% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 72.6% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 72.6% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 72.2% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 71.7% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 70.8% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 70.2% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 69.7% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.4% | 81.4% | 83.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 80.5% | 79.6% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.5% | 72.6% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.2% | 69.7% | 72.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 83.7% compare
- 9 Afghanistan 81.8% compare
- 10 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 81.5% compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 80.6% compare
- 12 South Sudan 80.3% compare
- 13 Central African Republic 79.4% compare
- 14 Guinea 79.2% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia?
- Vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) in South Asia was 69.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 83.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.7% in 2025.
- How does South Asia rank for vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment)?
- South Asia ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Vulnerable employment, total (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Vulnerable employment is contributing family workers and own-account workers as a percentage of total employment.