Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 43.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 43.0%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sierra Leone peaked at 71.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 43.0%, in 2023.
That places Sierra Leone 35th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 71.1% | — |
| 1992 | 71.4% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 71.2% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 71.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 71.2% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 70.8% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 71.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 70.6% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 70.3% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 69.6% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 70.3% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 67.5% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 66.6% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 68.5% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 68.2% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 67.8% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 66.8% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 66.1% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 65.6% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 64.5% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 63.5% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 61.4% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 59.1% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 57.6% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 56.5% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 52.8% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 49.1% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 46.2% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 44.7% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 44.5% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 44.2% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 43.5% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 43.0% | -1.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 43.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 78% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 43.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.0% | 70.3% | 71.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 67.7% | 65.6% | 70.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.6% | 44.7% | 64.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.8% | 43.0% | 44.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sierra Leone?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sierra Leone was 43.0% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 71.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.0% in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Sierra Leone ranks 35th 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 Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.