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

Kenya: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 22.7% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
22.7%
Change on year
up 13.1%
World rank
83rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
22.7%
in 2016
All-time low
10.8%
in 2006
Years of data
26
1991–2016

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

05101520251991200320161991: 13.41992: 141993: 16.61994: 18.31995: 16.91996: 161997: 16.21998: 16.81999: 182000: 17.92001: 17.22002: 15.32003: 15.32004: 14.62005: 13.92006: 10.82007: 112008: 122009: 12.92010: 14.42011: 15.42012: 15.42013: 162014: 17.12015: 202016: 22.7

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

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Kenya stood at 22.7%. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is up 13.1% on the previous year and up 109.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Kenya peaked at 22.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 2006.

Kenya ranks 83rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

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

Annual values for Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya, 1991 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1991 13.4%
1992 14.0% +4.9%
1993 16.6% +18.4%
1994 18.3% +9.8%
1995 16.9% -7.1%
1996 16.0% -5.6%
1997 16.2% +1.2%
1998 16.8% +3.4%
1999 18.0% +7.5%
2000 17.9% -0.4%
2001 17.2% -4.1%
2002 15.3% -11.2%
2003 15.3% +0.4%
2004 14.6% -5.0%
2005 13.9% -4.9%
2006 10.8% -21.8%
2007 11.0% +1.5%
2008 12.0% +8.7%
2009 12.9% +7.6%
2010 14.4% +11.6%
2011 15.4% +7.1%
2012 15.4% -0.0%
2013 16.0% +3.8%
2014 17.1% +6.9%
2015 20.0% +17.4%
2016 22.7% +13.1%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 22.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.8%, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 22.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.8%, 47% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 16.2% 13.4% 18.3% 9
2000s 14.1% 10.8% 17.9% 10
2010s 17.3% 14.4% 22.7% 7

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 80 Iran, Islamic Republic of 23.7% compare
  2. 81 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 23.2% compare
  3. 82 Mexico 23.0% compare
  4. 84 Sudan 22.4% compare
  5. 85 Libya 22.2% compare
  6. 86 Georgia 21.9% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More gender data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Kenya?
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Kenya was 22.7% 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 Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 22.7% in 2016.
What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 2006.
How does Kenya rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
Kenya ranks 83rd out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 109.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kenya 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 Kenya. 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/kenya/

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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".