Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Maldives
Maldives: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 7.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Maldives, 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 Maldives is 7.7%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Maldives peaked at 21.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 2023.
That places Maldives 121st 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 Maldives, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21.8% | — |
| 1992 | 21.5% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 21.1% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 20.7% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 20.3% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 19.1% | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 17.7% | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 16.6% | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 15.6% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 14.5% | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 15.9% | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 16.8% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 17.8% | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 17.2% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 17.2% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 16.1% | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 15.4% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 14.6% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 14.0% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 12.7% | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -11.0% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | -9.8% |
| 2013 | 9.0% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | -11.8% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 8.2% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 8.2% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 7.7% | -3.0% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 7.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 45% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 7.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 39.4%, 20% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.4% | 15.6% | 21.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.0% | 14.0% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 8.0% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 7.7% | 8.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More agriculture & rural data for Maldives
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 30.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0459 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 670.93 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5233 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5749 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Maldives?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Maldives was 7.7% 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 Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 2023.
- How does Maldives rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Maldives ranks 121st 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 Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Maldives 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.