Number of people employed in agriculture in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Number of people employed in agriculture was 1.48 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.48 million people
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
62nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
6.44 million people
in 1955
All-time low
1.29 million people
in 2016
Years of data
59
1955–2025
Number of people employed in agriculture in Republic of Korea, 1955–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people employed in agriculture in Republic of Korea stood at 1.48 million people.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in agriculture in Republic of Korea peaked at 6.44 million people in 1955 and was at its lowest, 1.29 million people, in 2016.
Republic of Korea ranks 62nd 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 Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 6.44 million people | — |
| 1963 | 4.61 million people | -28.4% |
| 1964 | 4.60 million people | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 4.58 million people | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 4.65 million people | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 4.58 million people | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 4.57 million people | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 4.60 million people | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 4.62 million people | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 4.65 million people | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 5.09 million people | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 5.31 million people | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 5.32 million people | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 5.17 million people | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 5.34 million people | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 5.15 million people | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 4.94 million people | -4.1% |
| 1979 | 4.66 million people | -5.7% |
| 1980 | 4.44 million people | -4.7% |
| 1981 | 4.57 million people | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 4.39 million people | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 4.11 million people | -6.4% |
| 1984 | 3.73 million people | -9.3% |
| 1985 | 3.56 million people | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 3.02 million people | -15.2% |
| 1992 | 2.64 million people | -12.5% |
| 1993 | 2.56 million people | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 2.45 million people | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 2.35 million people | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 2.26 million people | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 2.22 million people | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 2.33 million people | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 2.23 million people | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 2.25 million people | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 2.17 million people | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 2.08 million people | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 1.94 million people | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 1.81 million people | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 1.72 million people | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 1.67 million people | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.62 million people | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 1.58 million people | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 1.55 million people | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 1.47 million people | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 1.45 million people | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.43 million people | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 1.42 million people | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 1.37 million people | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 1.36 million people | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.29 million people | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 1.30 million people | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 1.36 million people | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 1.41 million people | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 1.46 million people | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 1.47 million people | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.54 million people | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 1.53 million people | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 1.51 million people | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 1.48 million people | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.44 million people | 6.44 million people | 6.44 million people | 1 |
| 1960s | 4.60 million people | 4.57 million people | 4.65 million people | 7 |
| 1970s | 5.02 million people | 4.62 million people | 5.34 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.13 million people | 3.56 million people | 4.57 million people | 6 |
| 1990s | 2.45 million people | 2.22 million people | 3.02 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.84 million people | 1.55 million people | 2.25 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.39 million people | 1.29 million people | 1.47 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.50 million people | 1.46 million people | 1.54 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 59 Azerbaijan 1.68 million people compare
- 60 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.67 million people compare
- 61 Malaysia 1.65 million people compare
- 63 Argentina 1.46 million people compare
- 64 Papua New Guinea 1.35 million people compare
- 65 Central African Republic 1.29 million people compare
More agriculture & rural data for Republic of Korea
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in agriculture in Republic of Korea?
- Number of people employed in agriculture in Republic of Korea was 1.48 million 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.44 million people in 1955.
- What is the lowest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.29 million people in 2016.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for number of people employed in agriculture?
- Republic of Korea ranks 62nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people employed in agriculture rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea 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.