Number of people employed in agriculture in France
France: Number of people employed in agriculture was 666,529 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
666,529 people
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
87th
of 186 countries
All-time high
9.02 million people
in 1921
All-time low
638,158 people
in 2020
Years of data
66
1856–2025
Number of people employed in agriculture in France, 1856–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
France recorded 666,529 people for number of people employed in agriculture in 2025.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in agriculture in France peaked at 9.02 million people in 1921 and was at its lowest, 638,158 people, in 2020.
France ranks 87th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people employed in agriculture in France, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1856 | 7.30 million people | — |
| 1866 | 7.54 million people | +3.2% |
| 1886 | 7.85 million people | +4.1% |
| 1896 | 8.50 million people | +8.3% |
| 1901 | 8.24 million people | -3.0% |
| 1906 | 8.86 million people | +7.4% |
| 1911 | 8.57 million people | -3.2% |
| 1921 | 9.02 million people | +5.3% |
| 1926 | 8.20 million people | -9.1% |
| 1931 | 7.70 million people | -6.0% |
| 1936 | 7.20 million people | -6.5% |
| 1946 | 7.48 million people | +3.9% |
| 1954 | 5.20 million people | -30.6% |
| 1962 | 3.91 million people | -24.8% |
| 1968 | 3.13 million people | -19.8% |
| 1970 | 2.84 million people | -9.3% |
| 1971 | 2.70 million people | -5.0% |
| 1972 | 2.55 million people | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 2.43 million people | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 2.32 million people | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 2.23 million people | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 2.14 million people | -3.7% |
| 1977 | 2.06 million people | -3.7% |
| 1978 | 2.00 million people | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 1.95 million people | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 1.89 million people | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 1.82 million people | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 1.76 million people | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 1.70 million people | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 1.64 million people | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 1.59 million people | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 1.24 million people | -22.0% |
| 1992 | 1.20 million people | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 1.17 million people | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 1.10 million people | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 1.05 million people | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 1.04 million people | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 1.00 million people | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 963,515 people | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 938,500 people | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 940,549 people | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 944,414 people | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 970,481 people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 1.02 million people | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 929,896 people | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 916,099 people | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 942,103 people | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 895,598 people | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 734,180 people | -18.0% |
| 2009 | 775,900 people | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 768,178 people | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 773,058 people | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 776,209 people | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 818,150 people | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 751,729 people | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 726,103 people | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 762,709 people | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 698,647 people | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 676,473 people | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 685,174 people | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 638,158 people | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 703,543 people | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 737,504 people | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 717,650 people | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 684,509 people | -4.6% |
| 2025 | 666,529 people | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 7.30 million people | 7.30 million people | 7.30 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 7.54 million people | 7.54 million people | 7.54 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 7.85 million people | 7.85 million people | 7.85 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 8.50 million people | 8.50 million people | 8.50 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 8.55 million people | 8.24 million people | 8.86 million people | 2 |
| 1910s | 8.57 million people | 8.57 million people | 8.57 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 8.61 million people | 8.20 million people | 9.02 million people | 2 |
| 1930s | 7.45 million people | 7.20 million people | 7.70 million people | 2 |
| 1940s | 7.48 million people | 7.48 million people | 7.48 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 5.20 million people | 5.20 million people | 5.20 million people | 1 |
| 1960s | 3.52 million people | 3.13 million people | 3.91 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 2.32 million people | 1.95 million people | 2.84 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.73 million people | 1.59 million people | 1.89 million people | 6 |
| 1990s | 1.08 million people | 938,500 people | 1.24 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 907,188 people | 734,180 people | 1.02 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 743,643 people | 676,473 people | 818,150 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 691,316 people | 638,158 people | 737,504 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More agriculture & rural data for France
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 14.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.014 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 687.36 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.033 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2115 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in agriculture in France?
- Number of people employed in agriculture in France was 666,529 people in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 9.02 million people in 1921.
- What is the lowest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 638,158 people in 2020.
- How does France rank for number of people employed in agriculture?
- France ranks 87th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people employed in agriculture rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people employed in agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people working in agriculture, including hunting, forestry and fishing.