Ramírez Reynoso, Tomás and Joann Vanek. 2024. Street Vendors and Market Traders in 12 Countries: A Statistical Profile. WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 40.
This brief compiles statistics on street vendors and market traders in 12 countries: Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Ghana, India, Mexico, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Türkiye and Uganda. In most of the countries, the overwhelming majority of market traders and an even higher share of street vendors are in informal employment. Other key points include:
Market traders and street vendors together comprise a larger share of total employment in the countries of Africa than in the other regions – as high as 24% in Senegal and 52% in Dakar. In six of the 12 countries, women comprise the majority of market traders, and women predominate among street vendors in nine countries – with women the overwhelming majority in Ghana at 83% for both worker groups.
Most women in market trade and street vending are own-account workers, self-employed with no employees. Generally, men are more likely to be employees than women.