Number of people employed in agriculture in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Number of people employed in agriculture was 287,295 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
287,295 people
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
110th
of 186 countries
All-time high
3.52 million people
in 1861
All-time low
252,783 people
in 2022
Years of data
101
1801–2025
Number of people employed in agriculture in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1801–2025
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 287,295 people, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in agriculture in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 3.52 million people in 1861 and was at its lowest, 252,783 people, in 2022.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 110th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 1.43 million people | — |
| 1841 | 1.54 million people | +7.9% |
| 1851 | 1.54 million people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 3.52 million people | +128.7% |
| 1871 | 3.12 million people | -11.4% |
| 1881 | 2.86 million people | -8.3% |
| 1891 | 2.62 million people | -8.4% |
| 1901 | 2.42 million people | -7.6% |
| 1911 | 2.40 million people | -0.8% |
| 1920 | 1.74 million people | -27.5% |
| 1921 | 1.67 million people | -4.1% |
| 1922 | 1.62 million people | -2.9% |
| 1923 | 1.57 million people | -3.0% |
| 1924 | 1.58 million people | +0.7% |
| 1925 | 1.58 million people | -0.4% |
| 1926 | 1.55 million people | -1.5% |
| 1927 | 1.52 million people | -1.9% |
| 1928 | 1.51 million people | -0.8% |
| 1929 | 1.50 million people | -0.6% |
| 1930 | 1.46 million people | -2.8% |
| 1931 | 1.43 million people | -2.4% |
| 1932 | 1.41 million people | -0.8% |
| 1933 | 1.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 1.39 million people | -1.3% |
| 1935 | 1.37 million people | -1.7% |
| 1936 | 1.33 million people | -2.6% |
| 1937 | 1.31 million people | -1.6% |
| 1938 | 1.27 million people | -3.1% |
| 1948 | 1.37 million people | +7.8% |
| 1949 | 1.37 million people | -0.2% |
| 1950 | 1.35 million people | -1.2% |
| 1951 | 1.32 million people | -2.6% |
| 1952 | 1.29 million people | -2.2% |
| 1953 | 1.26 million people | -1.9% |
| 1954 | 1.25 million people | -1.0% |
| 1955 | 1.25 million people | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 1.21 million people | -2.8% |
| 1957 | 1.20 million people | -0.6% |
| 1958 | 1.19 million people | -1.4% |
| 1959 | 1.18 million people | -0.8% |
| 1960 | 1.16 million people | -1.7% |
| 1961 | 1.12 million people | -3.2% |
| 1962 | 1.08 million people | -3.5% |
| 1963 | 1.07 million people | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 1.03 million people | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 972,718 people | -5.6% |
| 1966 | 935,266 people | -3.9% |
| 1967 | 900,935 people | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 871,805 people | -3.2% |
| 1969 | 835,393 people | -4.2% |
| 1970 | 801,062 people | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 764,439 people | -4.6% |
| 1972 | 756,800 people | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 768,303 people | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 735,608 people | -4.3% |
| 1975 | 708,164 people | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 700,818 people | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 694,236 people | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 680,884 people | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 665,668 people | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 670,838 people | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 677,300 people | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 675,548 people | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 671,863 people | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 694,933 people | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 661,114 people | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 636,516 people | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 606,556 people | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 580,027 people | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 593,015 people | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 592,178 people | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 567,783 people | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 550,352 people | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 516,165 people | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 472,681 people | -8.4% |
| 2000 | 474,064 people | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 434,580 people | -8.3% |
| 2002 | 435,864 people | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 396,797 people | -9.0% |
| 2004 | 409,499 people | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 401,228 people | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 397,218 people | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 404,232 people | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 430,522 people | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 326,207 people | -24.2% |
| 2010 | 358,679 people | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 361,845 people | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 355,533 people | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 321,137 people | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 385,535 people | +20.1% |
| 2015 | 361,214 people | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 364,990 people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 375,537 people | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 350,430 people | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 360,215 people | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 324,005 people | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 293,752 people | -9.3% |
| 2022 | 252,783 people | -13.9% |
| 2023 | 294,919 people | +16.7% |
| 2024 | 294,173 people | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 287,295 people | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 1.43 million people | 1.43 million people | 1.43 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.54 million people | 1.54 million people | 1.54 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.54 million people | 1.54 million people | 1.54 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 3.52 million people | 3.52 million people | 3.52 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.12 million people | 3.12 million people | 3.12 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.86 million people | 2.86 million people | 2.86 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.62 million people | 2.62 million people | 2.62 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.42 million people | 2.42 million people | 2.42 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.40 million people | 2.40 million people | 2.40 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.58 million people | 1.50 million people | 1.74 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.38 million people | 1.27 million people | 1.46 million people | 9 |
| 1940s | 1.37 million people | 1.37 million people | 1.37 million people | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.25 million people | 1.18 million people | 1.35 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 998,068 people | 835,393 people | 1.16 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 727,598 people | 665,668 people | 801,062 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 675,266 people | 661,114 people | 694,933 people | 6 |
| 1990s | 568,364 people | 472,681 people | 636,516 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 411,021 people | 326,207 people | 474,064 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 359,512 people | 321,137 people | 385,535 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 291,154 people | 252,783 people | 324,005 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1668 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in agriculture in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Number of people employed in agriculture in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 287,295 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.52 million people in 1861.
- What is the lowest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 252,783 people in 2022.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for number of people employed in agriculture?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 110th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people employed in agriculture rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 101 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people working in agriculture, including hunting, forestry and fishing.