Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in China
China: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 22.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in China, 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 China is 22.3%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in China peaked at 59.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, in 2023.
China ranks 79th 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 China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 59.7% | — |
| 1992 | 58.5% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 56.4% | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 54.3% | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 52.2% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 50.5% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 49.9% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 49.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 50.1% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 49.9% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 50.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 49.1% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 46.9% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 44.8% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 42.6% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 40.8% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 39.6% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 38.1% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 36.7% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 34.8% | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 33.6% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 31.4% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 29.5% | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 28.3% | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 27.4% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 26.7% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 25.8% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 24.7% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 23.6% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 23.4% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 22.8% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 22.3% | -1.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 22.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 22.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.1%, 85% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.5% | 49.8% | 59.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 45.2% | 38.1% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.9% | 24.7% | 36.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.0% | 22.3% | 23.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 76 Kyrgyzstan 23.9% compare
- 77 Honduras 22.6% compare
- 78 Philippines 22.4% compare
- 80 Turkmenistan 22.2% compare
- 81 Senegal 21.6% compare
- 82 Namibia 21.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in China?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in China was 22.3% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 59.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 2023.
- How does China rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- China ranks 79th 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 China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.