Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Asia
South Asia: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 47.2% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Asia, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 47.2% for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Asia peaked at 53.1% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 41.9%, in 2002.
South Asia ranks 1st of 25 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 51.7% | — |
| 1992 | 52.2% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 52.4% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 53.1% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 51.8% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 53.0% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 52.3% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 52.7% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 52.9% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 52.3% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 44.7% | -14.4% |
| 2002 | 41.9% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 43.1% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 43.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 44.3% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 44.7% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 45.4% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 44.8% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 45.8% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 46.9% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 44.1% | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 44.2% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 45.1% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 46.0% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 47.2% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.4% | 51.7% | 53.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 45.0% | 41.9% | 52.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.8% | 44.1% | 47.2% | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More gender data for South Asia
- Labor force, female 206.42 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.122 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 58.22 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 105.4% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 11.07 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 11.09 years (2019)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 11.4% (2025)
- Women of reproductive age 512.73 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Asia?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Asia was 47.2% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.1% in 1994.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.9% in 2002.
- How does South Asia rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- South Asia ranks 1st out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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".