Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Netherlands
Netherlands: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Netherlands, 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 Netherlands is 1.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Netherlands peaked at 4.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2023.
Netherlands ranks 163rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.3% | — |
| 1992 | 4.2% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 3.5% | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | +11.7% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 3.1% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -23.3% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | +9.4% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | -15.2% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -0.4% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 1.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 73% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 1.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 160 French Polynesia 2.1% compare
- 161 Denmark 2.0% compare
- 162 Kuwait 1.9% compare
- 164 Switzerland 1.9% compare
- 165 New Caledonia 1.8% compare
- 166 Sweden 1.8% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Netherlands
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0168 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,240 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -6.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0406 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.8% (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 Netherlands?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Netherlands was 1.9% 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2023.
- How does Netherlands rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Netherlands ranks 163rd 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 Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.