Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 13.1% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan recorded 13.1% for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in 2016.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 17.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2015.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 18th of 25 groups on this measure, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.9% | — |
| 1992 | 17.0% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 15.2% | -10.6% |
| 1994 | 15.4% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 14.6% | -5.2% |
| 1996 | 14.2% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 16.5% | +14.6% |
| 1999 | 14.4% | -12.9% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 14.3% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 12.9% | -9.6% |
| 2003 | 14.4% | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 14.2% | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 13.3% | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | +7.7% |
| 2008 | 13.1% | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 14.0% | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 12.9% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 12.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 12.5% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.4% | 14.2% | 17.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.9% | 12.9% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 12.2% | 13.6% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More gender data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force, female 53.25 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.0643 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 4.05 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 170.9% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 13.02 years (2018)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 13.36 years (2018)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 13.5% (2025)
- Own-account workers, male (% of male employment) 21.3% (2016)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 13.1% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 17.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2015.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 18th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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".