Economically active population in agriculture in South Africa
South Africa: Economically active population in agriculture was 1.12 million number in 2012. ▼ Falling
Economically active population in agriculture in South Africa, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, Production Yearbook and data files. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economically active population in agriculture in South Africa is 1.12 million number, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economically active population in agriculture in South Africa peaked at 1.66 million number in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1.12 million number, in 2012.
That places South Africa 34th out of 53 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Economically active population in agriculture in South Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.61 million number | — |
| 1981 | 1.62 million number | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 1.63 million number | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 1.64 million number | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 1.65 million number | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 1.66 million number | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 1.65 million number | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 1.64 million number | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 1.63 million number | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 1.62 million number | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.61 million number | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 1.60 million number | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 1.60 million number | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 1.60 million number | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 1.59 million number | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 1.58 million number | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 1.57 million number | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 1.55 million number | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 1.53 million number | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.51 million number | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 1.48 million number | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 1.46 million number | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 1.43 million number | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 1.41 million number | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 1.38 million number | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.34 million number | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 1.31 million number | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 1.29 million number | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 1.25 million number | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 1.22 million number | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 1.19 million number | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 1.15 million number | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.12 million number | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.63 million number | 1.61 million number | 1.66 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.58 million number | 1.51 million number | 1.61 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.36 million number | 1.22 million number | 1.48 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 million number | 1.12 million number | 1.19 million number | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 31 Sierra Leone 1.36 million number compare
- 32 Togo 1.33 million number compare
- 33 Central African Republic 1.27 million number compare
- 35 Liberia 952,000 number compare
- 36 Tunisia 809,000 number compare
- 37 Mauritania 782,000 number compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economically active population in agriculture in South Africa?
- Economically active population in agriculture in South Africa was 1.12 million number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, Production Yearbook and data files.
- What is the highest economically active population in agriculture recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.66 million number in 1985.
- What is the lowest economically active population in agriculture recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 million number in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for economically active population in agriculture?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 53 countries with data for 2012.
- Is economically active population in agriculture rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, Production Yearbook and data files, published as part of Economically active population in agriculture (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural employment shows the number of workers in the agricultural sector.