Introduction: Asthma has multiple causes, with occupational factors accounting for approximately 15% of cases. To document the situation among the specific population of artisans and merchants, the current prevalence of asthma was estimated and broken down by occupational sector. Method: The study included all active artisans and merchants affiliated with the Social Security for the Self-Employed (formerly the Social Scheme for the Self-Employed) as of January 1, 2013. Current asthma was defined using a validated predictive model based on data on reimbursements for anti-asthmatic medications between 2010 and 2012. Prevalence rates were estimated by gender and sector of activity. A comparison of the prevalence of current asthma across economic sectors was conducted by calculating odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using logistic models. Results: The study included 967,391 artisans and merchants. The prevalence of current asthma was 5.6% among men (n=40,408) and 6.8% among women (n=16,547). Compared to the business administration sector (reference activity), an increased risk of asthma was observed among men and women working in baking and pastry making (OR=2.1 [2.0–2.3] and OR=1.2 [1.1-1.5]) or in passenger taxi transport (OR=1.2 [1.1-1.3] and OR=1.3 [1.1-1.6], respectively). An increased risk was observed among men in the ambulance sector (OR=1.4 [1.2–1.7]) and in the fairground rides and amusement parks sector (OR=1.4 [1.2–1.6]), and among women in driving schools (OR=1.4 [1.1–1.8]). Discussion - Conclusion: Occupational sectors known to be at risk for asthma were identified in our study, but others, not previously documented in the literature, were also observed. This study provides new findings that may contribute to prevention efforts. However, a better characterization of occupational and environmental exposures would allow for more targeted interventions.