Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iraq
Iraq: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 8.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iraq, 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 Iraq is 8.2%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iraq peaked at 18.6% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2023.
That places Iraq 119th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.5% | — |
| 1992 | 18.6% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 18.5% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 18.4% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 18.2% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 17.8% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 17.0% | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 15.3% | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 14.5% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 14.1% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 14.3% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 13.7% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 13.6% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 13.2% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 12.8% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 11.9% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 11.5% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 11.1% | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 10.5% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 9.9% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 9.6% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 9.0% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.9% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 8.5% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 8.6% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 8.2% | -0.4% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 8.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 48% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 8.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.6% | 15.3% | 18.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.5% | 11.9% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.8% | 8.5% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More agriculture & rural data for Iraq
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -8.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0341 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 184.67 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3006 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2016)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.1% (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iraq?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iraq was 8.2% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2023.
- How does Iraq rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Iraq ranks 119th 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 Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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.