Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 14.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iran, Islamic Republic of is 14.3%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 24.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 2023.
That places Iran, Islamic Republic of 98th 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 Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24.9% | — |
| 1992 | 24.6% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 24.5% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 24.4% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 24.1% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 23.5% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 23.4% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 23.2% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 23.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 22.7% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 22.4% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 21.9% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 21.3% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 21.1% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 20.8% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 20.5% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 19.6% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 19.4% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 18.4% | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 16.9% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 17.1% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 16.6% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 16.7% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 15.5% | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 14.5% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | -1.7% |
Iran, Islamic Republic of compared with similar countries
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 14.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 84% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 14.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 2.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.0% | 23.1% | 24.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 21.0% | 19.4% | 22.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.2% | 16.6% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.3% | 14.3% | 16.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More agriculture & rural data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -25.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1059 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 415.77 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6359 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2262 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 10.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 10.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 3.0% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 14.3% 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 Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 2023.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 98th 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 Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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.