Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Tunisia
Tunisia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 12.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Tunisia, 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 Tunisia is 12.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Tunisia peaked at 23.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2022.
Tunisia ranks 103rd 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 Tunisia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 23.9% | — |
| 1992 | 23.5% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 23.2% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 22.9% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 22.6% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 22.2% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 21.8% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 21.4% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 21.0% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 20.0% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 19.7% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 18.8% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 18.5% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 19.4% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 18.0% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 18.5% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 16.4% | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 17.1% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 14.9% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 14.8% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 14.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 14.8% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 14.3% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 13.7% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 12.3% | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 12.8% | +4.7% |
Tunisia compared with similar countries
- Tunisia's 12.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 37% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Tunisia's 12.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.5% | 21.0% | 23.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 18.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 13.7% | 17.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 12.3% | 13.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tunisia
- 100 Uzbekistan 13.9% compare
- 101 Eswatini 13.8% compare
- 102 Costa Rica 13.4% compare
- 104 Kazakhstan 12.1% compare
- 105 Mexico 12.0% compare
- 106 Greece 11.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Tunisia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 18.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1029 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 479.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5867 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.293 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 10.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 10.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Tunisia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Tunisia was 12.8% 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 Tunisia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Tunisia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2022.
- How does Tunisia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Tunisia ranks 103rd 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 Tunisia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tunisia 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.