Self-employed workers in three countries (line graph)

The line graph shows the number of self-employed workers, in millions, in the UK, Germany and Japan between 2005 and 2020.

Overall, the number of self-employed workers fell in Japan across the whole period, while the UK saw an overall increase. Japan had the highest figures throughout, despite its steady decline.

In 2005, Japan had by far the most self-employed workers at 7.5 million, compared with 4.1 million in Germany and 3.2 million in the UK. Japan's figure then dropped continuously, reaching 5.3 million by 2020.

The UK showed a different pattern, rising from 3.2 million to a peak of 4.6 million in 2015 before falling slightly to 4.3 million. Germany stayed fairly stable, moving from 4.1 million to 4.4 million and then declining to 3.8 million at the end of the period.

The line graph shows the number of self-employed workers, in millions, in the UK, Germany and Japan at five-year intervals from 2005 to 2020.

Overall, Japan consistently had the largest self-employed workforce despite a continuous decline, while the UK saw an overall increase and Germany's numbers remained comparatively stable before edging downwards.

In 2005, Japan led with 7.5 million self-employed workers, more than double the UK's figure of 3.2 million, the lowest at that time; Germany stood in between at 4.1 million. Over the following fifteen years, Japan's total fell steadily at each interval, dropping to 6.0 million in 2015 and reaching 5.3 million by 2020, though it still remained the highest.

The UK, meanwhile, experienced steady growth, rising to a peak of 4.6 million in 2015 before slipping slightly to 4.3 million in 2020. Germany's figures moved within a narrow band, increasing marginally to 4.4 million in 2010 and then declining to 3.8 million by the end of the period, at which point Germany had the smallest self-employed workforce of the three.