Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Paraguay
Paraguay: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 17.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Paraguay, 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 Paraguay is 17.2%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Paraguay peaked at 33.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 17.2%, in 2023.
That places Paraguay 89th 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 Paraguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 29.6% | — |
| 1992 | 29.7% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 29.3% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 28.8% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 28.1% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 28.2% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 27.8% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 27.5% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 28.9% | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 31.9% | +10.3% |
| 2001 | 31.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 33.8% | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 31.3% | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 32.8% | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 32.0% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 30.3% | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 28.7% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 25.3% | -11.8% |
| 2009 | 28.0% | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 24.6% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 24.9% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 23.3% | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 22.4% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 21.4% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 20.6% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 20.1% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 21.3% | +13.6% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | -11.7% |
| 2023 | 17.2% | -1.4% |
Paraguay compared with similar countries
- Paraguay's 17.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Paraguay's 17.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.0%, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.7% | 27.5% | 29.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 30.6% | 25.3% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.4% | 18.7% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 17.2% | 21.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Paraguay
More agriculture & rural data for Paraguay
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 14.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1164 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 817.98 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5603 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2961 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 11.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 11.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Paraguay?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Paraguay was 17.2% 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 Paraguay?
- The highest recorded value was 33.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Paraguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.2% in 2023.
- How does Paraguay rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Paraguay ranks 89th 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 Paraguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Paraguay 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.