Disclosure: Fiverr is a FreelanceMile partner, and that partnership affects where it appears in this guide. Some links are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The pros, cons and fees for every platform, including Fiverr, are my honest take.
The United States has the largest freelance workforce by head count. MBO Partners counted 74.9 million US independent workers in 2026, a record.
India supplies the biggest share of online freelancers. It was 33% of workers tracked by the Online Labour Index in 2021, the latest published shares, with Bangladesh at 15%.
Africa tops the self-employment charts, but that isn’t freelancing. Chad led at 91.6% in 2025, and most of that is farming and market trading.
Key takeaways
- The US leads by count. MBO Partners counted 74.9 million US independent workers in 2026. The latest BLS survey, from July 2023, found 11.9 million independent contractors on their main job.
- India leads online supply. It supplied 33% of tracked online freelancers in 2021, ahead of Bangladesh at 15%. No newer shares exist.
- Self-employed isn’t freelancer. Chad’s 91.6% self-employment rate in 2025 mostly reflects informal and subsistence work.
- Global totals are a range. The World Bank’s 2023 report puts online gig workers between 154 million and 435 million.
- Country head counts are weak. Where no solid figure exists, this guide says “check current source” instead of guessing.
What counts as a “freelancer”?
There’s no single official definition, and that’s why rankings disagree. Each group below counts a different slice of the workforce.
A ranking that mixes these measures is comparing apples and oranges. That’s the main flaw in most “top countries” lists, including the old version of this page.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Measure | Who it counts | Who publishes it | Best used to answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent contractors | People whose main job is contract work | US Bureau of Labor Statistics | How many US workers are contractors in a government survey? |
| Freelancers (survey) | Anyone who did freelance work in the past year, including side work | Upwork | How common is freelancing as a side or main income? |
| Online freelancers | Workers on the big English-language platforms, by country | Online Labour Index | Where do online freelancers live? |
| Online gig workers | Platform workers worldwide, broadly defined | World Bank | How big is global platform work? |
| Self-employed | Anyone working for themselves, in any job | World Bank and ILO | How much of a country’s work is outside regular jobs? |
Which country has the most freelancers?
By head count, the US comes out on top in the figures we could verify. But the size of that number depends on who you count.
The sections below take one measure at a time. Each figure has a year and a source link.
The United States: the largest freelance market
What Upwork found
Upwork’s Freelancing Stats 2026 page says 39% of all US workers freelance, listed as “+4% from 2025”. It cites the 2026 Future Workforce Index, run in March and April 2026.
For skilled knowledge workers, Upwork’s press release of July 14, 2026 reports 38%, up from 28% the prior year. Those two numbers cover different groups, so don’t swap them.
Upwork’s last count of all US freelancers is from 2023. Its Freelance Forward study found 64 million Americans freelanced in 2023, or 38% of the workforce.
That study put their earnings at $1.27 trillion in 2023. Upwork’s newer studies survey skilled knowledge workers only.
Upwork’s stats page says freelancers “collectively generated $1.5 trillion in earnings in 2024.” That figure comes from its April 2025 study of skilled knowledge workers.
Remember that Upwork sells freelance services, so treat its surveys as one view.
What MBO Partners found
MBO Partners’ 2026 State of Independence study counted 74.9 million US independent workers in 2026, up from 72.9 million in 2025.
Its survey ran in April 2026 and counts anyone earning income independently, full or part time. MBO also sells services to firms that hire independents.
What the federal data says
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts far fewer. Its latest survey, from July 2023, found 11.9 million people were independent contractors on their main job.
That’s 7.4% of US employment, up from 6.9% in May 2017. BLS ran the survey again in May 2025, but hadn’t published those results on 19 October 2026.
The gap is easy to explain. BLS counts only main jobs, while Upwork and MBO count anyone who did independent work, including side work.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| US figure | Number | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| All US workers who freelance | 39% | 2026 | Upwork stats page |
| Skilled knowledge workers who freelance | 38% (28% a year earlier) | 2026 | Upwork press release |
| US independent workers | 74.9 million | 2026 | MBO Partners |
| Americans who freelanced | 64 million, 38% of the workforce | 2023 | Upwork press release |
| Skilled knowledge freelancers’ earnings | $1.5 trillion | 2024 | Upwork stats page |
| Independent contractors on main job | 11.9 million, 7.4% of employment | July 2023 (latest BLS survey) | BLS |
Who freelances in the US
Upwork’s 2026 index points to skilled knowledge workers, such as designers, writers and developers. Its press release says 58% of full-time employees are considering freelancing, up from 36%.
If you’re thinking of joining them, see our guide to the best freelance websites and the jobs that hire without a live interview.
Where online freelancers are located
The global range
The World Bank’s 2023 “Working Without Borders” report estimates 154 million to 435 million online gig workers. That’s 4.4% to 12.5% of the global labor force.
The low end counts unique registered workers, so it’s a floor. The report also covers gig work broadly, not only freelancing.
India, Bangladesh and Pakistan
The Online Labour Index tracks workers on the main English-language platforms. It found that India supplied 33% of online freelancers in 2021, up from 25% in 2017. Bangladesh supplied 15%, up from 10%.
India, Pakistan and Bangladesh together supplied more than half. The index measures a share of workers on those platforms, not every freelancer in each country.
These 2021 shares are the latest published. The index stopped collecting data in September 2024.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Country | Share of tracked online freelancers, 2021 | Share, 2017 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 33% | 25% | Online Labour Index |
| Bangladesh | 15% | 10% | Online Labour Index |
| Pakistan | Not published in the paper | Not published in the paper | Online Labour Observatory |
| United States | Not published in the paper | Not published in the paper | Online Labour Observatory |
The Philippines, Ukraine, Brazil and others
Payoneer’s top 10 freelancing countries page, updated March 2026, lists the USA, UK, Brazil, Pakistan, Ukraine, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Russia and Serbia.
Payoneer gives no method for that ranking. Its own figures are from 2019 to 2022, so read it as one company’s view, not 2026 data.
For current head counts in the Philippines, Brazil, Ukraine, Russia and Pakistan, check current source. The figures in circulation come from secondary reports and often mix freelancers with other workers.
Country-by-country table
Different measures can’t be ranked together, so each row names its measure. Use it to look up a country, not to build a leaderboard.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Country | Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Independent contractors, main job | 7.4% of employment | July 2023 (latest BLS survey) | BLS |
| United States | Self-employed share of employment | 6.1% | 2025 | World Bank |
| India | Share of tracked online freelancers | 33% | 2021 | Online Labour Index |
| India | Self-employed share of employment | 74.9% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Bangladesh | Share of tracked online freelancers | 15% | 2021 | Online Labour Index |
| Bangladesh | Self-employed share of employment | 61.0% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Pakistan | Freelancer head count | Check current source | n/a | Payoneer’s list |
| Pakistan | Self-employed share of employment | 57.0% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Philippines | Freelancer head count | Check current source | n/a | Payoneer’s list |
| Philippines | Self-employed share of employment | 36.1% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Brazil | Freelancer head count | Check current source | n/a | Payoneer’s list |
| Brazil | Self-employed share of employment | 30.3% | 2025 | World Bank |
| United Kingdom | Self-employed people | 4.439 million | June to August 2026 | ONS |
Why Africa tops old lists: self-employed isn’t freelancer
Many “most freelancers” rankings, including the old version of this page, really list the self-employed share of work. That measure is led by low-income countries.
In those economies, self-employed usually means small farmers, market traders and informal workers. They’re not selling design or writing to clients online.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Country | Self-employed share of employment, 2025 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chad | 91.6% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Niger | 89.5% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Sierra Leone | 88.8% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Madagascar | 88.3% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Nigeria | 86.2% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Central African Republic | 85.4% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Tanzania | 85.3% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Mozambique | 85.3% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| DR Congo | 85.1% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
| Burundi | 84.9% | World Bank, ILO modeled estimate |
These are modeled estimates, retrieved in October 2026, and the World Bank revises them each year. Compare that with the US at 6.1%, even though the US has the largest freelance sector.
The UK, Canada, EU and Australia in brief
The UK had 4.439 million self-employed people in June to August 2026, per the Office for National Statistics (seasonally adjusted). The 2025 average was 4.395 million.
ONS counts all self-employed people, not only freelancers. UK readers may also like our best freelance websites for the UK.
On the same World Bank measure for 2025, Canada was 12.9% and Australia 16.1%. Germany was 8.1%.
For platform work in the EU, check current source on the Council of the EU’s digital platform workers page. Some of its numbers are projections, not counts.
What does this mean if you want to freelance?
A big freelancer count means more competition, but it also means more clients buying. A country’s total says little about what you’ll earn.
Rates depend on your skill, your niche and your client. Check current pricing on each platform before you set yours, and use a freelance rate calculator to work out your floor.
Real freelancers describe a few common issues. One is pricing.
A user on r/LearnUSAccounting, Santosh_112, said:
“I was charging $8/hour and felt good about it until I actually did the math one evening. $8/hour. Upwork takes 10% on the first $500. So $7.20. Wise conversion eats another 1-2%.”
Reddit, r/LearnUSAccounting
Upwork’s fee now ranges from 0% to 15% per contract, per its Freelancer Service Fee page, so check yours before you price.
Another is clients judging pay by location.
A user on r/Upwork, SpectralUA, said:
“Some clients have written to me that I don’t live in the US so I’m not worthy of the amount I’m asking for. These clients are immediately blacklisted and will never be able to hire me, even for high price.”
Reddit, r/Upwork
Time zones and payments matter too. A user on r/AskMarketing, varnajohn, said:
“There is no solution for calls and the direct communication, you just have to be up at the same time.”
Reddit, r/AskMarketing
On fees, a user on r/PakFreelancers, syx12392, said:
“I used Payoneer before but the fees deduction is too much so now I am using Nsave which has better rates and less fees.”
Reddit, r/PakFreelancers
These are single opinions from Reddit, not data. They show what freelancers say they run into, and they can’t speak for a whole country.
Where to hire freelancers
If you’re a client, country matters less than the platform, the skill and the price you can pay. Many buyers start on a global marketplace, then add local job boards, referrals and portfolio sites.
Here are two marketplaces to start with. For the full list with fees, see our best freelance websites guide.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is a partner of this site, and it’s first here for that reason. Sellers list fixed-price services, so you can compare packages and reviews quickly.
Pros: Sellers list packages with prices, so you can compare them quickly.
Cons: Fees apply, so check current pricing before you order. Quality varies by seller.
Fiverr doesn’t publish a seller head count by country, so check current source before you rely on any number you see online.
2. Upwork
Upwork works more like a job board. You post a job, review proposals and hire.
Pros: You can compare many applicants and see their work history.
Cons: Sorting proposals takes time, and fees apply, so check current pricing on the official page.
One user on r/smallbusinessUS, vividnotions, said:
“For customer service-heavy roles, the Philippines can be a natural fit because there’s a large pool of people with experience working directly with US customers, plus a strong familiarity with US business culture.”
Reddit, r/smallbusinessUS
That thread was started by an outsourcing company, so weigh it accordingly.
Not every client is sold on offshore hiring.
A user on r/founder, Mission_Pirate_4150, said:
“Ukrainian, Indian, whatever. They all sell themselves as cheap. The reality is that the number of hours goes way up and easily crushes any supposed cost savings.”
Reddit, r/founder
That’s one client’s opinion, not a fact about any country.
Common mistakes when reading freelancer statistics
- Mixing measures. Self-employment, gig work and freelancing are different things. Don’t rank them in one list.
- Company versus government surveys. MBO’s 74.9 million (2026) and Upwork’s 64 million (2023) came from company surveys. BLS’s 11.9 million (July 2023) came from a government survey of main jobs.
- Registered versus active. The World Bank’s 154 million is unique registered workers, so not everyone is active.
- Forecasts versus counts. A projection for a future year isn’t a head count today.
- Old data in new pages. A page “updated” this year can still hold 2019 to 2022 numbers.
FAQ
How many freelancers are there in the world?
No one knows exactly. The World Bank estimated 154 million to 435 million online gig workers in its 2023 report. The range depends on how you define the work.
Which country has the most freelancers?
By head count, the United States. MBO Partners counted 74.9 million independent workers in 2026. The latest BLS survey counted 11.9 million main-job contractors in July 2023.
For online supply, India led at 33% in 2021.
Which country has the most freelancers on big marketplaces?
Marketplaces don’t publish a full country head count. The best public source is the Online Labour Index, where India led in 2021. The index stopped collecting data in 2024, so no newer shares exist.
What is the best country for freelancers?
There’s no single answer. It depends on taxes, internet access, payment options and client demand. Pick the measure that matters to you, then check current source for that country.
Is the number of freelancers growing?
In the US, the surveys say yes. Upwork’s stats page lists 39% of US workers freelancing, “+4% from 2025”. MBO’s count rose from 72.9 million in 2025 to 74.9 million in 2026.
Other countries lack comparable recent data, so check current source.
Sources and how the numbers were checked
Every figure above was read on its source page or data feed on 19 October 2026. Anything that couldn’t be confirmed is marked “check current source.”
- Upwork, Freelancing Stats 2026, updated July 14, 2026
- Upwork Future Workforce Index 2026, July 14, 2026
- Upwork Future Workforce Index 2025, April 23, 2025
- Upwork Freelance Forward 2023, December 12, 2023
- MBO Partners 2026 State of Independence, September 28, 2026
- MBO Partners 2025 State of Independence, 2025
- BLS contingent and alternative employment, July 2023 data (latest), released November 8, 2024
- Federal Register notice on the BLS survey, February 10, 2026
- World Bank, Working Without Borders, 2023
- Online Labour Index 2020, 2021 data (latest published)
- Decoding the Online Labour Index (2016 to 2024), Online Labour Observatory
- World Bank self-employment indicator, 2025 modeled estimates
- ONS self-employed series (seasonally adjusted), June to August 2026 (published October 20, 2026)
- Payoneer top 10 freelancing countries, page updated March 2026
What to do next
Pick the question you actually have. For the biggest market, start with the US figures. To join one, read the best freelance websites guide and set up one profile this week.
