Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Benin
Benin: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 28.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Benin, 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 Benin stood at 28.0%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Benin peaked at 56.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 28.0%, in 2023.
That places Benin 67th 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 Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.8% | — |
| 1992 | 56.6% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 56.3% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 56.1% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 55.5% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 55.1% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 54.5% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 54.0% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 53.3% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 52.5% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 51.6% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 50.8% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 50.2% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 49.4% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 48.9% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 48.2% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 47.2% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 46.3% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 45.7% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 45.1% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 43.6% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 41.7% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 39.6% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 37.6% | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 36.1% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 34.4% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 30.6% | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 29.6% | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 29.5% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 29.2% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 28.5% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 28.0% | -1.8% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 28.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 81% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Benin's 28.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 65% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.3% | 53.3% | 56.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 49.1% | 45.7% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.1% | 29.6% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.8% | 28.0% | 29.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More agriculture & rural data for Benin
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2292 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 380.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6697 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4664 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 22.9% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 22.9% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 52.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Benin?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Benin was 28.0% 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 56.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.0% in 2023.
- How does Benin rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Benin ranks 67th 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 Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin 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.