Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gabon
Gabon: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 29.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gabon, 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 Gabon stood at 29.2%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gabon peaked at 44.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 29.2%, in 2023.
Gabon ranks 62nd 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 Gabon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 44.0% | — |
| 1992 | 44.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 43.5% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 43.0% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 42.3% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 41.7% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 41.0% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 40.4% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 40.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 40.5% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 40.0% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 39.7% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 39.1% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 38.7% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 38.2% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 38.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 37.3% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 37.2% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 36.8% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 36.0% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 35.1% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 34.4% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 33.6% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 33.0% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 32.3% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 31.7% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 31.2% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 30.7% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 30.0% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 30.2% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 30.0% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 29.2% | -0.7% |
Gabon compared with similar countries
- Gabon's 29.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 1.7× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Gabon's 29.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 68% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.3% | 40.4% | 44.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.5% | 36.8% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.8% | 30.0% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.7% | 29.2% | 30.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More agriculture & rural data for Gabon
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0675 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 557.95 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0791 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 3.9% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gabon?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gabon was 29.2% 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 44.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.2% in 2023.
- How does Gabon rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Gabon ranks 62nd 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 Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gabon 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.