Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United States of America
United States of America: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United States of America, 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 United States of America is 1.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United States of America peaked at 2.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2023.
That places United States of America 168th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.8% | — |
| 1992 | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -5.5% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 1.7% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -3.1% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 1.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 60% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 165 New Caledonia 1.8% compare
- 166 Sweden 1.8% compare
- 167 Qatar 1.7% compare
- 169 Brunei Darussalam 1.5% compare
- 170 United Arab Emirates 1.3% compare
- 171 United States Virgin Islands 1.3% compare
More agriculture & rural data for United States of America
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.96 % change on previous year (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0094 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 673.66 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1981 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2021)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2021)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United States of America?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in United States of America was 1.6% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2023.
- How does United States of America rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- United States of America ranks 168th 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 States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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.