Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in France
France: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 2.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in France, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in France stood at 2.5%.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in France peaked at 5.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2020.
France ranks 155th 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 France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.6% | — |
| 1992 | 5.5% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 5.5% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 4.8% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -7.2% |
| 2006 | 3.7% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -19.5% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -3.2% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 2.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 96% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- France's 2.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More agriculture & rural data for France
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 14.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.014 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 687.36 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.033 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2115 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in France?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in France was 2.5% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2020.
- How does France rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- France ranks 155th 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 France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.
Download this data
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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.