Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Republic of Moldova
Republic of Moldova: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 51.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Republic of Moldova, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Republic of Moldova recorded 51.1% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.7% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Republic of Moldova peaked at 60.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 40.0%, in 1992.
That places Republic of Moldova 24th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Republic of Moldova, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 41.8% | — |
| 1992 | 40.0% | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 43.1% | +7.8% |
| 1994 | 43.8% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 42.8% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 42.8% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 41.6% | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 45.7% | +9.9% |
| 1999 | 48.9% | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 50.9% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 51.0% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 49.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 49.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 49.1% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 48.8% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 50.0% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 49.7% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 51.1% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 54.6% | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 54.4% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 55.4% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 56.3% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 58.8% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 59.6% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 59.4% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 59.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 58.3% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 57.6% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 56.6% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 55.4% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 51.1% | -7.7% |
Republic of Moldova compared with similar countries
- Republic of Moldova's 51.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 3.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Republic of Moldova's 51.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 10.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.4% | 40.0% | 48.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 48.8% | 51.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.6% | 54.4% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.2% | 51.1% | 57.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Moldova
- 21 Rwanda 54.8% compare
- 22 Zimbabwe 52.5% compare
- 23 Armenia 52.3% compare
- 25 Guinea-Bissau 50.0% compare
- 26 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 46.8% compare
- 27 Afghanistan 45.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Republic of Moldova
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0738 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 635.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5627 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 7.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 7.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Republic of Moldova?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Republic of Moldova was 51.1% 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 Republic of Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 60.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Republic of Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.0% in 1992.
- How does Republic of Moldova rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Republic of Moldova ranks 24th 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 Republic of Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Moldova 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.