Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar
Madagascar: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 69.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar, 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 Madagascar is 69.4%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar peaked at 82.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 68.9%, in 2012.
Madagascar ranks 6th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Madagascar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 79.1% | — |
| 1992 | 79.1% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 79.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 79.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 79.0% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 79.0% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 78.9% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 78.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 78.7% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 78.7% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 78.6% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 81.1% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 81.6% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 81.9% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 82.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 80.3% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 78.4% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 76.3% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 75.1% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 73.3% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 71.2% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 68.9% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 71.2% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 73.1% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 74.6% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 74.0% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 73.3% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 72.6% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 71.8% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 71.5% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 71.2% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 70.1% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 69.4% | -1.0% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 69.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 69.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.0% | 78.7% | 79.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 79.4% | 75.1% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.4% | 68.9% | 74.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.5% | 69.4% | 71.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 3 Central African Republic 70.5% compare
- 4 Lao People's Democratic Republic 69.6% compare
- 5 Mozambique 69.5% compare
- 7 Chad 69.1% compare
- 8 Mali 67.8% compare
- 9 Uganda 65.9% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Madagascar
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.217 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 130.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.671 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar was 69.4% 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.9% in 2012.
- How does Madagascar rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Madagascar ranks 6th 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 Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.