Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 1.3% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 49.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates peaked at 9.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2023.
That places United Arab Emirates 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.3% | — |
| 1992 | 9.2% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 9.0% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 8.4% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 8.5% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 7.9% | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | -6.9% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 5.3% | -10.5% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | -11.0% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -9.4% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -10.3% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | -12.2% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -11.2% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -10.8% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -10.6% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +53.1% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | -20.4% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -19.9% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -1.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 51% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 22% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +53.1% | 1.5% | 2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.7% | 8.4% | 9.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 3.9% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.5% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 167 Qatar 1.7% compare
- 168 United States of America 1.6% compare
- 169 Brunei Darussalam 1.5% compare
- 171 United States Virgin Islands 1.3% compare
- 172 Canada 1.3% compare
- 173 Germany 1.2% compare
More agriculture & rural data for United Arab Emirates
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0077 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 386.83 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1404 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.8% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United Arab Emirates was 1.3% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2023.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 170th 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 United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.