Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Poland
Poland: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 7.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Poland, 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 Poland is 7.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 36.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Poland peaked at 25.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2023.
That places Poland 122nd 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 Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 25.5% | — |
| 1992 | 24.9% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 24.2% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 23.4% | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 22.6% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 22.1% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 20.6% | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 19.8% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 19.2% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 18.7% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 19.2% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 18.2% | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | -9.1% |
| 2007 | 14.7% | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 14.0% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 13.3% | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 13.1% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 12.9% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 12.0% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 11.5% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 11.5% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 10.6% | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 9.6% | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 9.6% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | -12.4% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 7.6% | -7.9% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 7.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 2.9× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Poland's 7.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.5% | 19.2% | 25.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.8% | 13.3% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.3% | 9.2% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 7.6% | 9.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More agriculture & rural data for Poland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0245 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 697.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6232 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3991 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Poland?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Poland was 7.6% 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2023.
- How does Poland rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Poland ranks 122nd 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 Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Poland 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.