Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Egypt
Egypt: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 18.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Egypt, 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 Egypt is 18.7%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Egypt peaked at 38.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 18.7%, in 2023.
That places Egypt 85th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Egypt, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 37.6% | — |
| 1992 | 38.5% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 35.3% | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 35.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 34.0% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 31.3% | -7.9% |
| 1997 | 31.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 29.8% | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 28.7% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 29.6% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 28.5% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 29.9% | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 31.8% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 30.9% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 31.2% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 31.8% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 31.7% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 30.0% | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 28.3% | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 29.2% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 27.1% | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 28.0% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 27.5% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 25.6% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 25.1% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 21.7% | -13.5% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 19.3% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | -1.3% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 18.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 54% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 18.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 3.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.5% | 28.7% | 38.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 30.3% | 27.5% | 31.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.9% | 21.2% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 18.7% | 20.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More agriculture & rural data for Egypt
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1655 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 510.76 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.571 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Egypt?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Egypt was 18.7% 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.7% in 2023.
- How does Egypt rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Egypt ranks 85th 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 Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Egypt 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.