Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 25.5% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Latin America & Caribbean, 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 Latin America & Caribbean is 25.5%, measured in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 27.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 23.2%, in 2006.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 12th 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 Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 26.8% | — |
| 1992 | 27.4% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 27.2% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 27.2% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 27.1% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 26.2% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 23.6% | -9.9% |
| 1998 | 23.6% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 23.5% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 23.3% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 26.0% | +11.5% |
| 2002 | 26.1% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 26.0% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 23.7% | -9.0% |
| 2006 | 23.2% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 23.9% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 24.2% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 24.3% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 24.6% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 24.5% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 24.9% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 25.5% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.8% | 23.5% | 27.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.7% | 23.2% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 24.2% | 25.5% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More gender data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Labor force, female 136.62 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.205 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 6.64 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 135.1% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 15.32 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 14.51 years (2019)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 29.4% (2025)
- Own-account workers, male (% of male employment) 29.2% (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Latin America & Caribbean was 25.5% 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 27.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.2% in 2006.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 12th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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".