Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ghana
Ghana: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 35.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ghana, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 35.4% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ghana peaked at 63.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 35.2%, in 2015.
That places Ghana 46th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 63.4% | — |
| 1992 | 62.4% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 61.3% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 60.3% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 59.3% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 58.3% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 57.1% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 56.1% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 54.9% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 53.1% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 53.6% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 53.9% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 54.2% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 54.5% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 54.6% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 54.9% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 51.8% | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 48.6% | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 45.4% | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 42.0% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 42.8% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 44.2% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 45.4% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 40.4% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 35.2% | -13.0% |
| 2016 | 38.7% | +9.9% |
| 2017 | 42.0% | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 40.6% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 39.2% | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 38.5% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 37.7% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 35.8% | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 35.4% | -1.1% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 35.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 35.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 82% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.2% | 54.9% | 63.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 52.5% | 45.4% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.1% | 35.2% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.8% | 35.4% | 38.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More agriculture & rural data for Ghana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 41.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2128 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 692.99 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4821 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4108 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ghana?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Ghana was 35.4% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 63.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.2% in 2015.
- How does Ghana rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Ghana ranks 46th 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 Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.