Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in South Africa
South Africa: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 18.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 18.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in South Africa peaked at 22.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2014.
That places South Africa 84th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.2% | — |
| 1992 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 22.1% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 21.9% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 21.7% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 21.5% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 21.0% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 20.7% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 19.7% | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 19.2% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 17.1% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 17.7% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 17.6% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 16.5% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 17.6% | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 16.1% | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 15.4% | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 16.8% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 21.4% | +30.8% |
| 2021 | 21.3% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 19.3% | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 18.8% | -2.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 18.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 18.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 44% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +30.8% | 16.4% | 21.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.6% | 20.7% | 22.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.4% | 17.1% | 20.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.0% | 14.0% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 18.8% | 21.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in South Africa?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in South Africa was 18.8% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- South Africa ranks 84th 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 South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.