Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 39.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Least developed countries, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 39.0% for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Least developed countries peaked at 49.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 38.1%, in 2007.
Least developed countries ranks 7th of 25 groups on this measure, 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 49.0% | — |
| 1992 | 49.1% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 49.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 46.8% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 48.5% | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 47.5% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 48.2% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 47.8% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 45.5% | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 43.4% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 43.9% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 40.0% | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 39.9% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 39.5% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 41.0% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 41.2% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 38.1% | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 39.2% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 40.4% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 40.1% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 40.0% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 40.7% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 40.2% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 39.4% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 39.5% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 39.0% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.9% | 45.5% | 49.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 40.7% | 38.1% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.8% | 39.0% | 40.7% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More gender data for Least developed countries
- Labor force, female 190.69 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.157 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 9.08 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.5909 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.3771 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 0.7852 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.3129 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 111.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Least developed countries?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Least developed countries was 39.0% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 49.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.1% in 2007.
- How does Least developed countries rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- Least developed countries ranks 7th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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".