Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 12.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kazakhstan, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kazakhstan recorded 12.1% 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 1.9% on the previous year and down 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kazakhstan peaked at 36.7% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2023.
That places Kazakhstan 104th 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 Kazakhstan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 36.0% | — |
| 1992 | 36.1% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 36.2% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 36.5% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 36.6% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 36.6% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 36.6% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 36.7% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 36.7% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 36.3% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 35.5% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 35.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 35.3% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 33.5% | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 32.4% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 31.5% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 31.2% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 30.2% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 29.0% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 28.3% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 26.5% | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 25.5% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 24.2% | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 21.9% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 18.0% | -17.9% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 13.7% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 13.5% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | -1.9% |
Kazakhstan compared with similar countries
- Kazakhstan's 12.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 71% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Kazakhstan's 12.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 2.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.4% | 36.0% | 36.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 33.0% | 29.0% | 36.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.4% | 13.7% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 12.1% | 13.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kazakhstan
More agriculture & rural data for Kazakhstan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0374 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 550.04 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3844 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3761 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kazakhstan?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kazakhstan was 12.1% 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 Kazakhstan?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 1998.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2023.
- How does Kazakhstan rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Kazakhstan ranks 104th 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 Kazakhstan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kazakhstan 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.