Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Senegal
Senegal: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 21.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Senegal, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Senegal stood at 21.6%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Senegal peaked at 52.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 21.6%, in 2023.
Senegal ranks 81st 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 Senegal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 52.9% | — |
| 1992 | 52.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 52.6% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 52.6% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 52.1% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 51.9% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 51.5% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 50.8% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 50.0% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 49.4% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 48.5% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 47.2% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 45.3% | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 43.5% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 41.6% | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 39.8% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 40.9% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 41.1% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 40.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 40.3% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 39.7% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 38.8% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 37.3% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 34.7% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 31.3% | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 34.3% | +9.7% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | -18.2% |
| 2018 | 22.2% | -20.8% |
| 2019 | 23.0% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 23.1% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 22.7% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 22.0% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 21.6% | -1.5% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 21.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 63% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 21.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 50% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.9% | 50.0% | 52.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 43.8% | 39.8% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.0% | 22.2% | 40.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 21.6% | 23.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 78 Philippines 22.4% compare
- 79 China 22.3% compare
- 80 Turkmenistan 22.2% compare
- 82 Namibia 21.5% compare
- 83 Serbia 19.2% compare
- 84 South Africa 18.8% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Senegal
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 26.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1708 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 333.94 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4423 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 17.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 17.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (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 Senegal?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Senegal was 21.6% 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 Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 52.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.6% in 2023.
- How does Senegal rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Senegal ranks 81st 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 Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Senegal 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.