Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World
Arab World: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 15.3% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
The most recent figure for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World is 15.3%, measured in 2016.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World peaked at 21.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2006.
That places Arab World 17th out of 25 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21.1% | — |
| 1992 | 21.1% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 19.8% | -6.6% |
| 1994 | 19.8% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 18.4% | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 18.5% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 17.4% | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 19.0% | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 16.9% | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 16.7% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | -8.5% |
| 2003 | 16.6% | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 16.9% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 14.2% | -10.7% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 14.6% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 15.7% | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 15.4% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 14.9% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 14.8% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 15.3% | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.1% | 16.9% | 21.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.8% | 14.2% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 14.8% | 15.4% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More gender data for Arab World
- Labor force, female 27.41 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.0545 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 2.02 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.092 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.1271 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 0.0887 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.1065 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 211.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Arab World was 15.3% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
- What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2006.
- How does Arab World rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- Arab World ranks 17th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".