Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India

India: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 54.7% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
54.7%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
23rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
57.7%
in 1999
All-time low
46.5%
in 2002
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India, 1991–2016

02040601991200320161991: 55.31992: 55.81993: 56.31994: 571995: 55.31996: 56.91997: 56.21998: 57.11999: 57.72000: 56.82001: 47.62002: 46.52003: 482004: 48.12005: 49.52006: 50.52007: 522008: 51.62009: 53.22010: 55.12011: 50.72012: 51.22013: 52.32014: 53.12015: 53.92016: 54.7

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.

Analysis

India recorded 54.7% for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India peaked at 57.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 46.5%, in 2002.

That places India 23rd out of 187 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in India, 1991 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1991 55.3%
1992 55.8% +1.0%
1993 56.3% +0.8%
1994 57.0% +1.4%
1995 55.3% -3.0%
1996 56.9% +2.8%
1997 56.2% -1.2%
1998 57.1% +1.6%
1999 57.7% +1.0%
2000 56.8% -1.5%
2001 47.6% -16.3%
2002 46.5% -2.2%
2003 48.0% +3.2%
2004 48.1% +0.3%
2005 49.5% +2.8%
2006 50.5% +2.1%
2007 52.0% +2.9%
2008 51.6% -0.7%
2009 53.2% +3.1%
2010 55.1% +3.6%
2011 50.7% -7.9%
2012 51.2% +0.8%
2013 52.3% +2.2%
2014 53.1% +1.5%
2015 53.9% +1.5%
2016 54.7% +1.4%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 54.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.8%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • India's 54.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 30.9%, 1.8× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 56.4% 55.3% 57.7% 9
2000s 50.4% 46.5% 56.8% 10
2010s 53.0% 50.7% 55.1% 7

Countries ranked near India

  1. 20 Comoros 58.5% compare
  2. 21 Niger 58.5% compare
  3. 22 Malawi 57.7% compare
  4. 24 Guinea 53.3% compare
  5. 25 Mali 50.7% compare
  6. 26 Lesotho 48.1% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More gender data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India?
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India was 54.7% 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 India?
The highest recorded value was 57.7% in 1999.
What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 46.5% in 2002.
How does India rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
India ranks 23rd out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this India 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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Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in India. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-female-percent-of-female-employment-modeled-ilo-estimate/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed

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".