Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mexico
Mexico: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 12.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mexico, 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 Mexico stood at 12.0%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mexico peaked at 25.9% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2023.
Mexico ranks 105th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 25.9% | — |
| 1992 | 25.9% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 25.8% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 24.6% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 23.5% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 23.4% | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 19.3% | -17.4% |
| 1999 | 20.2% | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 17.4% | -13.9% |
| 2001 | 17.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 16.4% | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 15.6% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 15.0% | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 14.5% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 14.4% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 14.5% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 14.6% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 14.2% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 14.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 13.2% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 13.3% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 12.6% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -5.4% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 12.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 70% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 12.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.0%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.4% | 19.3% | 25.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.8% | 14.4% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 13.0% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 12.0% | 13.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 102 Costa Rica 13.4% compare
- 103 Tunisia 12.8% compare
- 104 Kazakhstan 12.1% compare
- 106 Greece 11.5% compare
- 107 Guyana 11.3% compare
- 108 Sao Tome and Principe 11.1% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Mexico
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.4963 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0388 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 539.47 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5998 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1996 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.9% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.9% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mexico?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mexico was 12.0% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 25.9% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2023.
- How does Mexico rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Mexico ranks 105th 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 Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mexico 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.