The State of Social Enterprise: A Review of Global Data 20132023

The report estimates there are approximately 10 million social enterprises globally, representing 3% of all businesses. These entities generate roughly $2 trillion in annual revenue, accounting for 2% of global GDP, and create nearly 200 million jobs. The sector shows strong gender diversity, with one in two enterprises led by women. However, the report highlights significant data challenges, including poor comparability and a lack of standardized metrics for social and environmental impact, calling for coordinated global data infrastructure.

• There are an estimated 10 million social enterprises worldwide, which constitutes approximately 3% of all global businesses.
• Social enterprises generate an estimated $2 trillion in annual revenue, representing about 2% of global GDP, a figure larger than the global apparel industry.
• The sector is a major employer, creating nearly 200 million jobs globally, with an average of 18 jobs per social enterprise.
• Social enterprises exhibit higher rates of female leadership than conventional businesses; one in two are led by women, compared to one in five for regular enterprises.
• India, China, and the United States have the highest absolute numbers of social enterprises, with estimates of 2 million, 1.75 million, and 1.3 million respectively.
• There is a significant global financing gap, with an estimated $1.125 trillion need, as many social enterprises seek external funding amounting to roughly 75% of their yearly revenue.
• Social enterprises align with all UN Sustainable Development Goals, with particular focus on SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities).
• Common barriers hindering the sector include limited access to finance, lack of public awareness, inadequate legal and fiscal frameworks, and restricted access to procurement processes.
• Current data on social enterprises is plagued by issues of availability, quality, and comparability due to varying national definitions and methodologies.

APA

World Economic Forum (2024). The State of Social Enterprise: A Review of Global Data 20132023. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_State_of_Social_Enterprise_2024.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. The State of Social Enterprise: A Review of Global Data 20132023. 2024. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_State_of_Social_Enterprise_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=The State of Social Enterprise: A Review of Global Data 20132023 |date=April 2024 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_State_of_Social_Enterprise_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2024state, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{The State of Social Enterprise: A Review of Global Data 20132023}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = apr, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_State_of_Social_Enterprise_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }