Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Japan
Japan: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 3.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Japan, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Japan recorded 3.0% 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 3.1% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Japan peaked at 6.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
That places Japan 147th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.7% | — |
| 1992 | 6.4% | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 5.8% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 5.7% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 4.1% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -3.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 3.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 3.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.1%, 12% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.8% | 5.2% | 6.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More agriculture & rural data for Japan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0096 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 323.87 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.0% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Japan?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Japan was 3.0% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Japan rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Japan ranks 147th 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 Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.