Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sweden
Sweden: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sweden, 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 Sweden is 1.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sweden peaked at 3.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2019.
Sweden ranks 166th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.2% | — |
| 1992 | 3.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 3.5% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -9.1% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +14.2% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | -4.9% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 1.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 68% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 1.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 36% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 163 Netherlands 1.9% compare
- 164 Switzerland 1.9% compare
- 165 New Caledonia 1.8% compare
- 167 Qatar 1.7% compare
- 168 United States of America 1.6% compare
- 169 Brunei Darussalam 1.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Sweden
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 15.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.015 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 949.09 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1092 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 3.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sweden?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Sweden was 1.8% 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2019.
- How does Sweden rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Sweden ranks 166th 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 Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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.