Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan
Sudan: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 39.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan, 1991–2022
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan stood at 39.8%. That is the lowest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan peaked at 55.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 39.8%, in 2022.
That places Sudan 38th out of 186 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 55.9% | — |
| 1992 | 55.5% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 55.1% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 54.8% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 54.4% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 54.1% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 53.4% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 52.9% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 52.4% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 51.6% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 51.0% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 49.8% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 49.0% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 48.4% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 47.5% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 47.4% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 46.6% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 46.0% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 45.6% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 44.6% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 44.6% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 44.1% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 43.5% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 43.0% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 42.0% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 41.0% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 40.7% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 40.8% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 40.7% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 39.8% | -2.2% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 39.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 72% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 39.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 92% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.3% | 52.4% | 55.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 48.8% | 46.0% | 51.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.1% | 40.7% | 45.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.4% | 39.8% | 40.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
- 35 Sierra Leone 43.0% compare
- 36 Tajikistan 42.7% compare
- 37 Georgia 39.9% compare
- 39 Liberia 38.9% compare
- 40 Papua New Guinea 38.7% compare
- 41 Solomon Islands 37.6% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Sudan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 60.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2936 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 341.88 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6507 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 7.8% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sudan was 39.8% in 2022, 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 55.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.8% in 2022.
- How does Sudan rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Sudan ranks 38th out of 186 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sudan 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.