Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Canada
Canada: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Canada, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Canada recorded 1.3% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 29.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Canada peaked at 3.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2023.
Canada ranks 172nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.5% | — |
| 1992 | 3.5% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | -10.4% |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -14.1% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | +18.5% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -22.1% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -2.7% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 49% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 169 Brunei Darussalam 1.5% compare
- 170 United Arab Emirates 1.3% compare
- 171 United States Virgin Islands 1.3% compare
- 173 Germany 1.2% compare
- 174 Puerto Rico 1.2% compare
- 175 Djibouti 1.1% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Canada
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 31.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,092 current US$ per person (2022)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.0803 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1712 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.9% (2022)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.9% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Canada?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Canada was 1.3% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2023.
- How does Canada rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Canada ranks 172nd 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 Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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.