Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Guyana
Guyana: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 11.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Guyana, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guyana recorded 11.3% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Guyana peaked at 35.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 2023.
That places Guyana 107th 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 Guyana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 35.5% | — |
| 1992 | 34.2% | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 33.5% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 32.1% | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 31.1% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 29.6% | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 28.3% | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 27.8% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 26.1% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 25.0% | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 23.4% | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 22.2% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 21.8% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 21.6% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 22.3% | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 23.7% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 22.8% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 22.5% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 22.0% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 21.4% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 20.4% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 19.8% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 18.3% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -13.2% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 12.1% | -21.1% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 11.9% | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 11.3% | -5.2% |
Guyana compared with similar countries
- Guyana's 11.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 4.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Guyana's 11.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.0%, 94% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.9% | 26.1% | 35.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 22.7% | 21.6% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 15.3% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Guyana
- 104 Kazakhstan 12.1% compare
- 105 Mexico 12.0% compare
- 106 Greece 11.5% compare
- 108 Sao Tome and Principe 11.1% compare
- 109 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 10.6% compare
- 110 Saint Lucia 10.4% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Guyana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0773 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 2,507 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5708 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7351 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 7.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 7.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Guyana?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Guyana was 11.3% 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 Guyana?
- The highest recorded value was 35.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Guyana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2023.
- How does Guyana rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Guyana ranks 107th 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 Guyana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guyana 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.