Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Thailand
Thailand: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 30.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Thailand, 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 Thailand stood at 30.1%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Thailand peaked at 61.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 30.1%, in 2023.
That places Thailand 58th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 61.2% | — |
| 1992 | 61.8% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 58.2% | -5.8% |
| 1994 | 57.8% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 54.0% | -6.6% |
| 1996 | 52.0% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 52.5% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 54.1% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 51.7% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 51.7% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 47.6% | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 46.1% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 44.9% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 44.3% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 43.9% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 43.4% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 42.9% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 41.4% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 39.9% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 38.2% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 41.0% | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 42.1% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 39.3% | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 33.5% | -14.8% |
| 2015 | 32.3% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 31.2% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 31.5% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 32.2% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 31.5% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 31.4% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 31.9% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 30.4% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 30.1% | -1.0% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 30.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 1.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 30.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.1%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.9% | 51.7% | 61.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 44.6% | 39.9% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.3% | 31.2% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.0% | 30.1% | 31.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More agriculture & rural data for Thailand
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0875 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 704.7 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -2.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.372 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 8.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 4.0% (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 Thailand?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Thailand was 30.1% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 61.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.1% in 2023.
- How does Thailand rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Thailand ranks 58th 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 Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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.