Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bhutan
Bhutan: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 43.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bhutan, 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 Bhutan is 43.8%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bhutan peaked at 72.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 43.8%, in 2023.
Bhutan ranks 31st of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 72.4% | — |
| 1992 | 72.2% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 72.0% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 71.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 71.6% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 71.2% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 70.9% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 70.7% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 70.4% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 69.5% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 68.8% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 68.2% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 67.5% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 66.3% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 65.0% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 62.8% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 61.9% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 60.6% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 58.8% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 57.2% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 57.1% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 58.1% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 56.3% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 56.7% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 58.0% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 56.8% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 55.5% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 54.0% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 51.1% | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 49.9% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 49.9% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 44.0% | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 43.8% | -0.3% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 43.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 43.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 39.4%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.5% | 70.4% | 72.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 65.0% | 58.8% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.1% | 51.1% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.9% | 43.8% | 49.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More agriculture & rural data for Bhutan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 3.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1368 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 614.64 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.8653 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5657 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 13.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 13.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bhutan?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Bhutan was 43.8% 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 Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.8% in 2023.
- How does Bhutan rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Bhutan ranks 31st 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 Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.