Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Israel
Israel: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 0.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Israel, 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 Israel stood at 0.8%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 38.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Israel peaked at 3.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2023.
That places Israel 181st out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom 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 Israel, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.5% | — |
| 1992 | 3.5% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -12.7% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -13.0% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -12.2% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -9.4% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -13.7% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -19.9% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | -10.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -2.3% |
Israel compared with similar countries
- Israel's 0.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 29% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Israel's 0.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 12% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Israel
- 178 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.0% compare
- 179 Bahrain 0.9% compare
- 180 Luxembourg 0.9% compare
- 182 Argentina 0.6% compare
- 183 Macau, China 0.5% compare
- 184 Guam 0.2% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Israel
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0129 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 696.75 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7021 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0842 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.3% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Israel?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Israel was 0.8% 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 Israel?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Israel?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2023.
- How does Israel rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Israel ranks 181st 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 Israel?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Israel 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.