Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lebanon
Lebanon: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 3.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lebanon, 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 Lebanon is 3.4%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lebanon peaked at 7.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2023.
Lebanon ranks 144th 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 Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.4% | — |
| 1992 | 7.2% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 6.9% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 6.5% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 6.4% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 5.8% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 4.4% | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 4.2% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -1.0% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 3.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 10% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 3.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 55% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.8% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 4.4% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More agriculture & rural data for Lebanon
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 39.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0105 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 46.75 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0904 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% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lebanon?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lebanon was 3.4% 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 Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2023.
- How does Lebanon rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Lebanon ranks 144th 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 Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.