Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Romania
Romania: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 17.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Romania, 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 Romania is 17.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Romania peaked at 45.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 2023.
That places Romania 87th 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 Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 39.3% | — |
| 1992 | 39.4% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 39.4% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 39.0% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 40.3% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 38.0% | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 40.9% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 42.0% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 44.0% | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 45.2% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 44.4% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 37.7% | -15.1% |
| 2003 | 37.7% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 32.6% | -13.6% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 30.6% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 29.5% | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 28.7% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 29.1% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 31.0% | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 29.3% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 29.7% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 29.3% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 28.3% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 25.6% | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 23.1% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 22.8% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 22.3% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 20.5% | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 18.2% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 17.9% | -1.9% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 17.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 6.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Romania's 17.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 3.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.2% | 38.0% | 44.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.8% | 28.7% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.3% | 21.2% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 17.9% | 20.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More agriculture & rural data for Romania
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 19.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.03 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 676.39 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1768 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4783 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Romania?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Romania was 17.9% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 45.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 2023.
- How does Romania rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Romania ranks 87th 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 Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.