Number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people employed in agriculture was 977,098 people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
977,098 people
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
73rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
1.34 million people
in 2002
All-time low
668,683 people
in 2011
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa is 977,098 people, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa peaked at 1.34 million people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 668,683 people, in 2011.
That places South Africa 73rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.10 million people | — |
| 1992 | 1.12 million people | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 1.15 million people | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 1.16 million people | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 1.16 million people | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.16 million people | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.17 million people | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 1.17 million people | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 1.15 million people | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 1.16 million people | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 1.34 million people | +14.9% |
| 2003 | 1.23 million people | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 1.14 million people | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 895,797 people | -21.3% |
| 2006 | 876,583 people | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 868,092 people | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 854,837 people | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 751,312 people | -12.1% |
| 2010 | 691,958 people | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 668,683 people | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 718,689 people | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 770,598 people | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 729,297 people | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 925,930 people | +27.0% |
| 2016 | 910,959 people | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 874,495 people | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 873,320 people | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 896,667 people | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 864,042 people | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 881,936 people | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 909,428 people | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 959,469 people | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 970,881 people | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 977,098 people | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.15 million people | 1.10 million people | 1.17 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.03 million people | 751,312 people | 1.34 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 806,060 people | 668,683 people | 925,930 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 927,142 people | 864,042 people | 977,098 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 70 Kazakhstan 1.08 million people compare
- 71 Liberia 1.07 million people compare
- 72 Tajikistan 1.07 million people compare
- 74 Nicaragua 960,464 people compare
- 75 Syrian Arab Republic 952,843 people compare
- 76 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 934,354 people compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa?
- Number of people employed in agriculture in South Africa was 977,098 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 million people in 2002.
- What is the lowest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 668,683 people in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people employed in agriculture?
- South Africa ranks 73rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people employed in agriculture rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.