Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 15.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Syrian Arab Republic, 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 Syrian Arab Republic stood at 15.0%.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Syrian Arab Republic peaked at 32.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 2011.
Syrian Arab Republic ranks 92nd of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Syrian Arab Republic, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28.2% | — |
| 1992 | 29.5% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 31.6% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 30.1% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 28.4% | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 28.1% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 28.0% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 27.9% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 27.8% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 32.9% | +18.2% |
| 2001 | 30.6% | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 30.3% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 27.0% | -10.9% |
| 2004 | 24.4% | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 22.0% | -9.8% |
| 2006 | 19.7% | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 19.1% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 14.4% | -24.5% |
| 2009 | 14.9% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 14.8% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 13.2% | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 14.0% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | +10.4% |
| 2014 | 16.1% | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 16.3% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 16.2% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 15.8% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 15.0% | -2.3% |
Syrian Arab Republic compared with similar countries
- Syrian Arab Republic's 15.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 27% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syrian Arab Republic's 15.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 2.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.9% | 27.8% | 31.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 23.5% | 14.4% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.5% | 13.2% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 15.0% | 15.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Syrian Arab Republic
More agriculture & rural data for Syrian Arab Republic
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.3% (2010)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 76.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 42.9% (2022)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2792 units per person (2025)
- Rural population 7.15 million (2025)
- Rural population growth 3.7% (2025)
- Rural population 27.9% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.4285 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 452.85 current US$ per person (2022)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.81 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Syrian Arab Republic?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Syrian Arab Republic was 15.0% 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 Syrian Arab Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 32.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Syrian Arab Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 2011.
- How does Syrian Arab Republic rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Syrian Arab Republic ranks 92nd 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 Syrian Arab Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Syrian Arab Republic 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.