The number of self-employed individuals in Russia has reached nine million, and their aggregate earnings exceed 2.9 trillion rubles. This figure is reported by the Federal Tax Service of Russia in official statements. According to the agency, the self-employed segment continues to grow as the year unfolds, reflecting a broad set of economic activities and a shift in how work is organized in the modern freelance economy.
During the year, the Federal Tax Service issued more than 1.6 billion financial checks, with an average payment amount of 1,840 rubles. These checks illustrate the broad reach of self-employment across many sectors and the FTS’s ongoing efforts to monitor and regulate informal earnings. On a daily basis, more than 8,500 Russians are taking up individual entrepreneur status, indicating a steady pipeline of people formalizing their business activities and seeking regulatory clarity and access to official financial services.
Experts note that the core activities of many self-employed individuals span taxi services, various repair tasks, marketing initiatives, the sale of self-produced goods, beauty services, goods delivery, and apartment rental. The Federal Tax Service’s assessments highlight these as the most common domains where self-employment is actively pursued, reflecting both consumer demand and the practical realities of operating outside traditional corporate structures.
Demographic data from the ministry indicates that 42 percent of project participants are women and 58 percent are men, with an average age of about 35. These numbers underscore a relatively young and balanced gender distribution among the self-employed, aligning with broader trends toward flexible work arrangements and diversified income streams in the modern economy.
Earlier reports explored how freelancers in the Russian Federation could augment earnings over a six-month period, providing a snapshot of income dynamics under a growing self-employment model. The evolving landscape has prompted discussions about tax coverage, social security implications, and opportunities for skill monetization in a rapidly changing market.
There has also been discussion among experts about the online trading of other people’s products by self-employed individuals as a potential avenue for income expansion. This approach, which leverages digital marketplaces and direct-to-consumer channels, aligns with broader shifts toward platform-enabled entrepreneurship and flexible distribution networks that empower individuals to leverage their networks and assets in new ways. The ongoing dialogue about such models reflects an interest in how self-employed professionals can diversify revenue streams while staying compliant with regulatory requirements and tax reporting standards. (Source: Federal Tax Service of Russia)