Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Burundi
Burundi: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 85.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Burundi, 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 Burundi is 85.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Burundi peaked at 92.5% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 85.1%, in 2023.
Burundi ranks 1st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Burundi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 91.9% | — |
| 1992 | 91.9% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 91.9% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 92.0% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 92.3% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 92.5% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 92.5% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 92.2% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 92.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 91.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 91.6% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 91.3% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 91.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 90.8% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 90.6% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 90.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 89.7% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 89.2% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 88.9% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 88.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 87.9% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 87.3% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 86.7% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 86.2% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 86.4% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 86.3% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 86.3% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 86.0% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 85.6% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 85.3% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 85.2% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 85.1% | -0.2% |
Burundi compared with similar countries
- Burundi's 85.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burundi's 85.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 92.1% | 91.9% | 92.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 90.5% | 88.9% | 91.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.7% | 85.6% | 88.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.3% | 85.1% | 85.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Burundi
- 2 Niger 70.6% compare
- 3 Central African Republic 70.5% compare
- 4 Lao People's Democratic Republic 69.6% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Burundi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3429 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 80.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0032 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 34.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 34.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Burundi?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Burundi was 85.1% 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 Burundi?
- The highest recorded value was 92.5% in 1996.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Burundi?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.1% in 2023.
- How does Burundi rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Burundi ranks 1st 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 Burundi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burundi 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.