Share of agriculture in total employment in Italy
Italy: Share of agriculture in total employment was 3.8% in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
3.8%
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
34th
of 44 countries
All-time high
47.3%
in 1951
All-time low
3.7%
in 2009
Years of data
61
1951–2011
Share of agriculture in total employment in Italy, 1951–2011
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Italy recorded 3.8% for share of agriculture in total employment in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of agriculture in total employment in Italy peaked at 47.3% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2009.
Italy ranks 34th 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 47.3% | — |
| 1952 | 45.8% | -3.2% |
| 1953 | 44.3% | -3.3% |
| 1954 | 43.0% | -2.9% |
| 1955 | 41.4% | -3.7% |
| 1956 | 39.8% | -3.9% |
| 1957 | 37.8% | -5.0% |
| 1958 | 36.9% | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 36.2% | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 34.5% | -4.7% |
| 1961 | 32.6% | -5.5% |
| 1962 | 30.7% | -5.8% |
| 1963 | 28.4% | -7.5% |
| 1964 | 26.9% | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 27.2% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 25.9% | -4.8% |
| 1967 | 25.1% | -3.1% |
| 1968 | 23.4% | -6.8% |
| 1969 | 22.0% | -6.0% |
| 1970 | 20.2% | -8.2% |
| 1971 | 20.1% | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 18.6% | -7.5% |
| 1973 | 17.8% | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 16.9% | -5.1% |
| 1975 | 16.0% | -5.3% |
| 1976 | 15.7% | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 14.9% | -5.1% |
| 1978 | 14.6% | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 14.0% | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 13.4% | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 12.6% | -6.0% |
| 1982 | 11.7% | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 11.5% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 10.8% | -6.1% |
| 1985 | 10.1% | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 9.6% | -5.0% |
| 1987 | 9.2% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 8.5% | -7.6% |
| 1989 | 8.0% | -5.9% |
| 1990 | 7.5% | -6.2% |
| 1991 | 7.2% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 7.0% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 6.6% | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 5.6% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 5.0% | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 4.8% | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 41.4% | 36.2% | 47.3% | 9 |
| 1960s | 27.7% | 22.0% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.9% | 14.0% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.5% | 8.0% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.2% | 5.0% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 3.7% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More agriculture & rural data for Italy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0207 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.3131 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3032 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of agriculture in total employment in Italy?
- Share of agriculture in total employment in Italy was 3.8% in 2011, 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 1951.
- What is the lowest share of agriculture in total employment recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2009.
- How does Italy rank for share of agriculture in total employment?
- Italy ranks 34th out of 44 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of agriculture in total employment rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.
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