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The State of Social Enterprise
By World Economic Forum
1 Nov 2024
This report from the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship provides an overview of the social enterprise sector worldwide. It highlights key trends, challenges, and opportunities, and calls for stronger ecosystems, supportive policy, and increased investment to help social enterprises grow and scale their impact.
View resourceSummary
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the global social enterprise landscape. Key findings include:
- There are approximately 10 million social enterprises worldwide, comprising over 3% of all businesses.
- These enterprises generate around $2 trillion in annual revenue and create nearly 200 million jobs.
- Social enterprises bridge the gender gap, with about 50% led by women compared to 20% for conventional businesses.
- They operate across various industries and contribute to all UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially in health, education, climate, and job creation.
The report aggregates data from over 80 countries, representing 83% of the global population. It highlights social enterprises' significant economic impact, noting that the sector is larger than the global apparel industry and nearly twice the size of the advertising industry.
The report emphasises the transformative role of social enterprises in addressing pressing global challenges and the need for sustained, coherent data collection to unlock their full potential.

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