Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 2.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 2.8% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 53.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2021.
Saudi Arabia ranks 151st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.9% | — |
| 1992 | 7.7% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 7.4% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 7.3% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 7.1% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 6.8% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 6.7% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 6.5% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | -23.1% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | -14.3% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | -21.9% |
| 2019 | 3.5% | +13.7% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -15.9% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -1.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 46% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.5% | 7.2% | 7.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 6.5% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 3.1% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (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 Saudi Arabia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Saudi Arabia was 2.8% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2021.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 151st 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.