Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 35.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh is 35.3%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh peaked at 64.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 35.3%, in 2023.
That places Bangladesh 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 64.2% | — |
| 1992 | 64.1% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 63.9% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 63.6% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 63.4% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 63.0% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 62.5% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 62.0% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 61.4% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 60.9% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 58.1% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 55.0% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 51.7% | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 50.0% | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 48.1% | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 47.9% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 47.8% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 47.5% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 47.3% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 46.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 45.9% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 45.1% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 44.4% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 43.5% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 42.7% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 40.6% | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 39.6% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 38.5% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 38.0% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 37.3% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 35.7% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 35.3% | -1.1% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 35.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 35.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 39.4%, 90% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.1% | 61.4% | 64.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 51.5% | 47.5% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.4% | 38.5% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.6% | 35.3% | 38.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More agriculture & rural data for Bangladesh
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1142 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 296.72 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6676 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 11.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 11.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 6.0% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh was 35.3% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 64.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.3% in 2023.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Bangladesh ranks 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.