Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Jordan
Jordan: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 3.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Jordan, 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 Jordan stood at 3.2%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Jordan peaked at 4.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2023.
Jordan ranks 145th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Jordan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.9% | — |
| 1992 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 3.4% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +10.9% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | -10.3% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -2.4% |
Jordan compared with similar countries
- Jordan's 3.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 19% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Jordan's 3.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 52% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jordan
More agriculture & rural data for Jordan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0556 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 297.43 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -3.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0679 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 5.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 5.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Jordan?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Jordan was 3.2% 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 Jordan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Jordan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2023.
- How does Jordan rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Jordan ranks 145th 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 Jordan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jordan 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.