Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Serbia
Serbia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 19.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Serbia, 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 Serbia stood at 19.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Serbia peaked at 30.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 2020.
Serbia ranks 83rd 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 Serbia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 30.0% | — |
| 1992 | 29.8% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 29.5% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 29.3% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 28.9% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 28.6% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 28.2% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 27.7% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 27.3% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 26.7% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 26.1% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 25.2% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 24.5% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 23.3% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 20.5% | -11.9% |
| 2007 | 20.8% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 25.0% | +20.4% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 22.3% | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 21.2% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 21.0% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 21.3% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 19.9% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 19.4% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 17.2% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 15.6% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 14.6% | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | +35.6% |
| 2022 | 19.5% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | -1.7% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 19.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 19.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 3.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Serbia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +35.6% | 14.6% | 19.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.8% | 27.3% | 30.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.0% | 20.5% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2% | 15.6% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.2% | 14.6% | 19.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More agriculture & rural data for Serbia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 14.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0328 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 501.36 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3736 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2007)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2007)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Serbia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Serbia was 19.2% 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 Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 2020.
- How does Serbia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Serbia ranks 83rd 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 Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Serbia 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.