QoG Data

Informal Economy Database

The World Bank’s Prospects Group has constructed a global database of informal economic activity. The database includes up to 196 economies over the period 1990-2020 and includes the eleven most commonly used measures of informal economy.

Dataset type

Time-Series

Dataset level

Country

Last updated by source

2024-01-09

Citation

When using this dataset, please cite as:

• Elgin, C., Kose, M. A., Ohnsorge, F., & Yu, S. (2021). Understanding informality. CEPR Discussion Paper, 16497.

@article{ied1,
 author = {Elgin, Ceyhun and Kose, Mehmet Akif and Franziska Ohnsorge and Yu, Shu},
 journal = {CEPR Discussion Paper},
 last_updated = {2025-11-05},
 publisher = {Centre for Economic Policy Research, London},
 title = {Understanding Informality},
 volume = {16497},
 year = {2021}
}

Variables in this dataset

Browse variables and select them for download.

DGE Model-based Informal Output

QoG code: ied_dge

Dynamic General Equilibrium (DGE) model-based estimates of informal output.

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MIMIC Model-based Informal Output

QoG code: ied_mimic

Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model-based estimates of informal output.

View variable