Employment in services

In brief

Employment in services: across 184 countries and territories, values range from 11.6 % (Burundi) to 92.2 % (Djibouti), with a world median of 59.5 %. Data: 2021–2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 79.7 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 33.7 %. By continent, the median is highest in Europe (71.5 %) and lowest in Africa (44 %).

Median by continent

Why this indicator matters

This indicator shows what share of workers have a service job: retail, health, education, banking, transport, tourism. It reveals how modernized an economy is and where it stands between agriculture, industry and services.

What makes this indicator vary

The share of services grows as a country gets richer: mechanization reduces farm jobs, then industry jobs, and demand for services rises. Tourism, finance and digital activities strengthen it. It stays lower where agriculture still employs many people.

Reading precautions

Services cover very different jobs, from street vending to highly skilled positions. A high share therefore does not, on its own, indicate a good standard of living. In some countries, part of these jobs is informal and poorly counted.