Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Belize
Belize: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 15.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Belize, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Belize stood at 15.6%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Belize peaked at 29.9% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 15.6%, in 2023.
That places Belize 91st out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Belize, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28.8% | — |
| 1992 | 28.5% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 28.1% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 27.4% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 27.2% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 28.7% | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 29.9% | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 25.0% | -16.4% |
| 1999 | 27.5% | +9.8% |
| 2000 | 26.2% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 24.7% | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 23.3% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 22.0% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 20.8% | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 19.6% | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 19.4% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 19.1% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 18.9% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 18.3% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 18.0% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 17.5% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 17.7% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 18.1% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 17.3% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 16.4% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.9% | 25.0% | 29.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 21.3% | 18.7% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.8% | 16.9% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 15.6% | 17.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belize
- 88 Bosnia and Herzegovina 17.6% compare
- 89 Paraguay 17.2% compare
- 90 Cuba 17.1% compare
- 92 Syrian Arab Republic 15.0% compare
- 93 El Salvador 14.8% compare
- 94 Panama 14.7% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Belize
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0795 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 610.5 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5844 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 7.9% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 7.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Belize?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Belize was 15.6% 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 Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 1997.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.6% in 2023.
- How does Belize rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Belize ranks 91st 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 Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belize 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.