Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa stood at 5.4%.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa peaked at 9.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 130th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.4% | — |
| 1992 | 9.5% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 9.0% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | +12.8% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | -9.7% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | -22.6% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 5.7% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -9.2% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +21.6% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 35% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.5%, 12% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.2% | 8.8% | 9.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 5.0% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa?
- Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) in South Africa was 5.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in agriculture (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest employment in agriculture (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in agriculture (% of total employment)?
- South Africa ranks 130th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in agriculture (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The agriculture sector consists of activities in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, in accordance with division 1 (ISIC 2) or categories A-B (ISIC 3) or category A (ISIC 4).