Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Liberia
Liberia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 38.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Liberia, 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 Liberia stood at 38.9%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Liberia peaked at 54.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 38.9%, in 2023.
That places Liberia 39th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 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 Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54.5% | — |
| 1992 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 54.6% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 54.4% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 54.0% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 53.4% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 52.9% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 52.4% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 51.8% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 51.5% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 50.8% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 53.2% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 52.5% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 51.9% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 51.1% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 50.0% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 49.1% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 48.3% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 47.3% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 46.1% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 44.7% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 43.1% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 42.5% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 42.0% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 41.7% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 40.6% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 40.1% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 40.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 40.3% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 40.1% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 39.5% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 38.9% | -1.5% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 38.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 71% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 38.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 90% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.9% | 52.4% | 54.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 51.0% | 48.3% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.8% | 40.1% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.7% | 38.9% | 40.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
- 36 Tajikistan 42.7% compare
- 37 Georgia 39.9% compare
- 38 Sudan 39.8% compare
- 40 Papua New Guinea 38.7% compare
- 41 Solomon Islands 37.6% compare
- 42 Timor-Leste 36.8% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Liberia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3265 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 298.89 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.8615 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4392 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 32.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 32.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 63.7% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.7% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Liberia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Liberia was 38.9% 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 54.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.9% in 2023.
- How does Liberia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Liberia ranks 39th 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 Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Liberia 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.