Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Brazil
Brazil: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 8.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Brazil, 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 Brazil is 8.2%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.1% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Brazil peaked at 18.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2023.
Brazil ranks 120th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Brazil, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.3% | — |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 18.3% | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 17.5% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 17.0% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 15.9% | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 15.8% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 15.1% | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 15.6% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 15.3% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 15.5% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 14.5% | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 12.3% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 11.5% | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 10.8% | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 10.0% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 9.3% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 9.8% | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 9.2% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 8.9% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 9.5% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 8.2% | -6.1% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 8.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 48% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 8.2% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.0%, 69% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.9% | 15.1% | 18.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.6% | 12.3% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.8% | 8.9% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.9% | 8.2% | 9.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More agriculture & rural data for Brazil
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0609 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 652.04 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1182 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 5.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Brazil?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Brazil was 8.2% 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2023.
- How does Brazil rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Brazil ranks 120th 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 Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Brazil 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.