Share of agriculture in total employment in Belgium
Belgium: Share of agriculture in total employment was 1.9% in 2007. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2007)
1.9%
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
40th
of 44 countries
All-time high
53.5%
in 1846
All-time low
1.9%
in 2007
Years of data
49
1846–2007
Share of agriculture in total employment in Belgium, 1846–2007
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 1.9% for share of agriculture in total employment in 2007. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and down 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of agriculture in total employment in Belgium peaked at 53.5% in 1846 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2007.
Belgium ranks 40th of 44 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of agriculture in total employment in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1846 | 53.5% | — |
| 1856 | 49.2% | -8.0% |
| 1866 | 44.8% | -8.9% |
| 1880 | 38.3% | -14.5% |
| 1890 | 32.1% | -16.2% |
| 1900 | 27.1% | -15.6% |
| 1910 | 24.5% | -9.6% |
| 1920 | 22.8% | -6.9% |
| 1930 | 18.3% | -19.7% |
| 1947 | 14.0% | -23.5% |
| 1961 | 8.5% | -39.3% |
| 1970 | 5.3% | -37.6% |
| 1971 | 4.9% | -7.5% |
| 1972 | 4.6% | -6.1% |
| 1973 | 4.4% | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 4.2% | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 4.1% | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 3.9% | -4.9% |
| 1977 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 3.7% | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 3.7% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3.5% | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 2.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.5% | 1 |
| 1850s | 49.2% | 49.2% | 49.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 44.8% | 44.8% | 44.8% | 1 |
| 1880s | 38.3% | 38.3% | 38.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 1 |
| 1900s | 27.1% | 27.1% | 27.1% | 1 |
| 1910s | 24.5% | 24.5% | 24.5% | 1 |
| 1920s | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 1 |
| 1930s | 18.3% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 1 |
| 1940s | 14.0% | 14.0% | 14.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 4.3% | 3.7% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More agriculture & rural data for Belgium
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -0.3325 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0073 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 443.58 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2138 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1233 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.2% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of agriculture in total employment in Belgium?
- Share of agriculture in total employment in Belgium was 1.9% in 2007, according to Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of agriculture in total employment recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 1846.
- What is the lowest share of agriculture in total employment recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2007.
- How does Belgium rank for share of agriculture in total employment?
- Belgium ranks 40th out of 44 countries with data for 2007.
- Is share of agriculture in total employment rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of agriculture in total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).