Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Yemen
Yemen: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 28.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Yemen, 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 Yemen is 28.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Yemen peaked at 56.9% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 24.1%, in 2010.
Yemen ranks 65th 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 Yemen, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54.8% | — |
| 1992 | 54.7% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 54.7% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 54.6% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 55.3% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 55.9% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 56.4% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 56.9% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 54.1% | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 49.6% | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 45.0% | -9.4% |
| 2002 | 40.3% | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 35.6% | -11.5% |
| 2004 | 31.0% | -12.9% |
| 2005 | 29.8% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 28.6% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 27.4% | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 26.4% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 25.2% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 24.1% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 25.8% | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 26.9% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 28.0% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 29.2% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 29.9% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 30.1% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 30.1% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 29.7% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 29.1% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 29.4% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 29.3% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 28.7% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 28.6% | -0.7% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 28.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.1%, 52% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 28.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 4.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.3% | 54.1% | 56.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 33.9% | 25.2% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.3% | 24.1% | 30.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.0% | 28.6% | 29.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More agriculture & rural data for Yemen
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -14.18 % change on previous year (2018)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2875 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 182.21 current US$ per person (2018)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6297 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 28.7% (2018)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 28.7% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2019)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Yemen?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Yemen was 28.6% 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9% in 1998.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.1% in 2010.
- How does Yemen rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Yemen ranks 65th 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 Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen 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.