Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 34.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria stood at 34.3%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria peaked at 52.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2023.
Nigeria ranks 50th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 52.4% | — |
| 1992 | 52.1% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 52.0% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 51.8% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 51.6% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 51.3% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 50.9% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 50.4% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 49.8% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 49.0% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 48.3% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 47.9% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 46.8% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 45.6% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 44.9% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 44.2% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 43.6% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 42.9% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 42.2% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 41.3% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 40.6% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 39.5% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 38.4% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 38.2% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 38.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 38.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 38.6% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 38.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 38.6% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 38.0% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 37.1% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 34.9% | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 34.3% | -1.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 34.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 100% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 34.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.4% | 49.8% | 52.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 45.6% | 42.2% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.0% | 38.2% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.1% | 34.3% | 38.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3622 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria was 34.3% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 52.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2023.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Nigeria ranks 50th 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 Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.