Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Oman
Oman: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 6.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Oman, 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 Oman is 6.1%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Oman peaked at 10.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 2018.
Oman ranks 128th 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 Oman, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.0% | — |
| 1992 | 9.7% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 9.4% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | -7.9% |
| 1995 | 8.0% | -8.3% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | -8.4% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 6.6% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 6.4% | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 6.7% | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | -21.6% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -23.6% |
| 2011 | 5.2% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +10.9% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | +15.8% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | -1.4% |
Oman compared with similar countries
- Oman's 6.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 2.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Oman's 6.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 99% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.2% | 6.6% | 10.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 6.4% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.4% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Oman
- 125 Latvia 6.8% compare
- 126 Palestine, State of 6.2% compare
- 127 Chile 6.2% compare
- 129 Montenegro 6.0% compare
- 130 Russian Federation 5.7% compare
- 131 Bulgaria 5.7% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Oman
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0281 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 560.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2052 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Oman?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Oman was 6.1% 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 Oman?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Oman?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 2018.
- How does Oman rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Oman ranks 128th 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 Oman?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Oman 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.