Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 1.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 17.3% on the previous year and down 46.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Switzerland peaked at 5.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2023.
Switzerland ranks 164th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.0% | — |
| 1992 | 5.0% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 4.9% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 4.6% | -8.9% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 3.7% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | -17.9% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 3.5% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 3.3% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -15.7% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -17.3% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 1.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 73% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 1.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.5% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More agriculture & rural data for Switzerland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 739.83 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.8806 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1427 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Switzerland?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Switzerland was 1.9% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.1% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2023.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Switzerland ranks 164th 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 Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.
Download this data
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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.