Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 62.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia is 62.4%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ethiopia peaked at 78.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 62.4%, in 2023.
Ethiopia ranks 11th 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 77.5% | — |
| 1992 | 77.9% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 77.4% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 77.2% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 76.9% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 76.2% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 76.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 76.6% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 76.4% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 76.6% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 76.7% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 77.4% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 78.4% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 78.0% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 78.1% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 77.3% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 76.5% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 75.6% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 74.9% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 73.8% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 72.8% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 72.0% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 71.0% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 70.0% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 69.0% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 68.0% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 66.9% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 66.1% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 65.1% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 64.4% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 63.5% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 63.1% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 62.4% | -1.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 62.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 62.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.9% | 76.1% | 77.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 77.0% | 74.9% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.5% | 65.1% | 73.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.3% | 62.4% | 64.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More agriculture & rural data for Ethiopia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -20.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3282 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 306.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7589 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 32.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 32.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.7% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ethiopia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ethiopia was 62.4% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 78.4% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.4% in 2023.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Ethiopia ranks 11th 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 Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.