Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 9.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
North Macedonia recorded 9.3% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 50.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia peaked at 27.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2023.
That places North Macedonia 116th 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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 27.0% | — |
| 1992 | 26.8% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 26.8% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 26.7% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 26.5% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 26.3% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 26.0% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 25.7% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 25.4% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 24.7% | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 24.2% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 23.9% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 22.0% | -7.9% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -19.5% |
| 2005 | 18.4% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 19.0% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 17.9% | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 18.0% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 16.4% | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 15.7% | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 13.4% | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 9.5% | -14.1% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | -2.4% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 9.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 54% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 9.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.4% | 25.4% | 27.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 17.7% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 13.4% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.4% | 9.3% | 11.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More agriculture & rural data for North Macedonia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0598 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 626.97 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3711 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (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 North Macedonia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia was 9.3% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2023.
- How does North Macedonia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- North Macedonia ranks 116th 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 North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.