Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Türkiye
Türkiye: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 14.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Türkiye, 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 Türkiye is 14.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 36.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Türkiye peaked at 47.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 2023.
Türkiye ranks 95th 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 Türkiye, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.8% | — |
| 1992 | 44.8% | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 42.5% | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 44.0% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 44.1% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 43.7% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 41.7% | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 41.0% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 39.6% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 36.0% | -9.1% |
| 2001 | 37.6% | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 34.9% | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 33.9% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 29.1% | -14.1% |
| 2005 | 25.7% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 24.0% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 23.5% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 23.7% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 22.9% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 23.7% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 24.2% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 23.6% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 22.9% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 21.1% | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 20.4% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 19.5% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 19.4% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 18.4% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 18.1% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 17.6% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 17.2% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 15.7% | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 14.6% | -6.5% |
Türkiye compared with similar countries
- Türkiye's 14.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 86% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Türkiye's 14.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 3.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.2% | 39.6% | 47.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.1% | 22.9% | 37.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.1% | 18.1% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 14.6% | 17.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Türkiye
- 92 Syrian Arab Republic 15.0% compare
- 93 El Salvador 14.8% compare
- 94 Panama 14.7% compare
- 96 Jamaica 14.6% compare
- 97 Colombia 14.4% compare
- 98 Iran, Islamic Republic of 14.3% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Türkiye
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0521 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 968.94 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9904 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1051 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 5.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 5.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Türkiye?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Türkiye was 14.6% 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 Türkiye?
- The highest recorded value was 47.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Türkiye?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 2023.
- How does Türkiye rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Türkiye ranks 95th 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 Türkiye?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Türkiye 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.