Data · updated
Side hustle statistics 2026
Around the world, millions of people are starting something on the side, and most say they do it for the money. Here are the clearest 2026 numbers we could find, country by country, each linked to its source. Surveys measure “side hustle” differently, so compare countries with care.
The short version
- About 3 in 10 adults in the U.S., Canada and Australia have a side hustle (28–33%, depending on the survey), and 25–46% in the UK.
- Money is the main reason. 80–85% cite financial reasons, and 61% of Americans with one say life would be unaffordable without it.
- Selling online leads. 41–48% of side hustlers sell online; handmade goods, second-hand items and digital products top the list.
- Official registries show the same rise: record new one-person businesses in Brazil and France, and record business-name filings in the Philippines.
By country
| Where | What the data says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 33% of adults have a side hustle (38% in 2025); average $1,242 a month; 36% started because of the economy; 61% say life would be unaffordable without it. | LendingTree survey of 2,049 adults, March 3–6, 2026 |
| U.S., UK, Canada, Australia | Side hustle rates of 28% (U.S.), 25% (UK), 31% (Canada) and 33% (Australia); 80–85% do it for financial reasons; 41–48% sell online. | Omnisend / Cint survey, March 2026, about 1,000–1,400 adults per country |
| United Kingdom | 46% of adults earn side-hustle income. | Finder / Censuswide, January 2026 |
| Brazil | More than 1.59 million new one-person businesses (MEI) in January–April 2026, 78% of all new companies, up nearly 15% on 2025. | Sebrae, 2026 |
| France | 566,619 new micro-entrepreneurs from September 2025 to August 2026, up 14.4%. | INSEE, September 18, 2026 |
| Spain | A record 651,200 people hold more than one job (second quarter of 2026). | Spain's labour force survey, reported by Infobae, September 2026 |
| Philippines | Over 1 million business names registered with the DTI in 2025. | DTI, reported by The Philippine Star, January 2026 |
| India | 8.84 crore (88.4 million) enterprises registered on the Udyam portal. | Government data, reported by KNN India, 2026 |
What side hustlers sell and where
In the Omnisend survey, the top products were handmade or custom goods, vintage or second-hand items, and digital products. eBay was the leading platform in the U.S. and UK, and Facebook Marketplace in Canada and Australia.
Starting your own
A side hustle needs a name people remember and can find. Our free guides cover how to check if a name is taken and how to name a business, plus name ideas for popular side hustles such as an Etsy shop, a TikTok shop, resale and content creation. The free name generator checks the .com as you go.
How we built this page. We only list figures we could read on the source page itself, and we link every one. Survey numbers are estimates with a margin of error. If you spot a newer figure, write to support@sparkmyname.com and we will update the page.
Keep going
side hustle brands · free business tools · naming guides by industry · SparkMyName™ fact sheet
Turning your side hustle into a brand?
Tell Spark your idea in one sentence. Get 6 brands, each with a name, a live .com check, a first trademark screen, a logo, colors and a brand photo.
Founding price $39 one time for the first 100 customers · Regular price $49 · one payment, no subscription
Build my brand — $39One payment · No subscription · Secure checkout