Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 37.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Solomon Islands, 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 Solomon Islands is 37.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Solomon Islands peaked at 41.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 32.5%, in 1999.
Solomon Islands ranks 41st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Solomon Islands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 35.7% | — |
| 1992 | 35.4% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 35.1% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 34.6% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 34.2% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 33.6% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 33.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 32.8% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 32.5% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 33.9% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 33.6% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 35.9% | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 37.8% | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 38.2% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 37.8% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 38.7% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 39.2% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 39.6% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 40.1% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 40.5% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 41.1% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 41.6% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 41.3% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 40.7% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 40.4% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 39.7% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 39.3% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 38.6% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 38.8% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 38.7% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 38.1% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | -1.4% |
Solomon Islands compared with similar countries
- Solomon Islands's 37.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Solomon Islands's 37.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.1%, 1.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.2% | 32.5% | 35.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 37.3% | 33.6% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.3% | 38.6% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3% | 37.6% | 38.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Solomon Islands
More agriculture & rural data for Solomon Islands
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2973 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 574.77 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6869 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.7% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 73.3% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Solomon Islands?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Solomon Islands was 37.6% 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 Solomon Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Solomon Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.5% in 1999.
- How does Solomon Islands rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Solomon Islands ranks 41st 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 Solomon Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Solomon Islands 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.