Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Zambia
Zambia: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 55.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 55.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Zambia peaked at 68.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 53.8%, in 2015.
That places Zambia 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 68.4% | — |
| 1992 | 68.4% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 68.5% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 68.3% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 68.2% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 67.9% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 67.6% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 67.1% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 65.9% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 64.4% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 64.9% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 65.3% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 64.7% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 63.9% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 63.0% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 61.5% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 60.1% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 58.8% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 57.2% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 56.0% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 54.7% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 53.8% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 55.3% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 56.8% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 59.8% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 57.4% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 59.1% | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 57.8% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 56.1% | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 55.4% | -1.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 55.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 55.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.8% | 65.9% | 68.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 64.4% | 61.5% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.0% | 53.8% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.1% | 55.4% | 59.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Zambia?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Zambia was 55.4% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.8% in 2015.
- How does Zambia rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Zambia ranks 19th 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 Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.