Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gambia
Gambia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 29.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gambia, 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 Gambia stood at 29.1%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.1% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gambia peaked at 46.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 29.1%, in 2023.
That places Gambia 63rd 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 46.1% | — |
| 1992 | 45.8% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 45.6% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 45.5% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 45.2% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 44.9% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 44.4% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 43.9% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 43.1% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 42.3% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 41.4% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 41.4% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 40.4% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 39.4% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 39.4% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 39.2% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 38.6% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 37.7% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 36.7% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 35.9% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 36.4% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 35.6% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 35.1% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 34.9% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 34.3% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 33.9% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 33.2% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 32.2% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 31.3% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 31.3% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 31.0% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 30.3% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 29.1% | -4.1% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 29.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 29.1% 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 | 44.9% | 43.1% | 46.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 39.7% | 36.7% | 42.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.3% | 31.3% | 36.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.4% | 29.1% | 31.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More agriculture & rural data for Gambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 25.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2385 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 219.17 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2766 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3501 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gambia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Gambia was 29.1% 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.1% in 2023.
- How does Gambia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Gambia ranks 63rd 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 Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia 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.