Share of agriculture in total employment in Japan
Japan: Share of agriculture in total employment was 4.6% in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2012)
4.6%
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
32nd
of 44 countries
All-time high
84.9%
in 1872
All-time low
4.6%
in 2012
Years of data
69
1872–2012
Share of agriculture in total employment in Japan, 1872–2012
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of agriculture in total employment in Japan is 4.6%, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 69 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of agriculture in total employment in Japan peaked at 84.9% in 1872 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2012.
That places Japan 32nd out of 44 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of agriculture in total employment in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1872 | 84.9% | — |
| 1880 | 82.3% | -3.1% |
| 1890 | 76.2% | -7.4% |
| 1900 | 70.0% | -8.1% |
| 1910 | 63.0% | -10.0% |
| 1920 | 54.4% | -13.7% |
| 1930 | 50.6% | -7.0% |
| 1940 | 46.7% | -7.7% |
| 1950 | 48.1% | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 41.9% | -12.9% |
| 1954 | 40.2% | -4.1% |
| 1955 | 39.7% | -1.2% |
| 1956 | 38.0% | -4.3% |
| 1957 | 36.2% | -4.7% |
| 1958 | 34.3% | -5.2% |
| 1959 | 32.6% | -5.0% |
| 1960 | 31.4% | -3.7% |
| 1961 | 29.9% | -4.8% |
| 1962 | 28.3% | -5.4% |
| 1963 | 26.3% | -7.1% |
| 1964 | 24.7% | -6.1% |
| 1965 | 23.4% | -5.3% |
| 1966 | 22.3% | -4.7% |
| 1967 | 21.3% | -4.5% |
| 1968 | 20.6% | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 19.9% | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 18.8% | -5.5% |
| 1971 | 17.3% | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 16.4% | -5.2% |
| 1973 | 15.3% | -6.7% |
| 1974 | 14.9% | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 14.6% | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 14.2% | -2.7% |
| 1977 | 13.9% | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 13.7% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 13.1% | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 12.3% | -6.1% |
| 1981 | 11.8% | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 11.6% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 11.1% | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 10.7% | -3.6% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 10.1% | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 9.9% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 9.4% | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 9.0% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 8.6% | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 8.2% | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 8.0% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 7.5% | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 7.3% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 6.8% | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 6.4% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 5.1% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | -4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 84.9% | 84.9% | 84.9% | 1 |
| 1880s | 82.3% | 82.3% | 82.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 76.2% | 76.2% | 76.2% | 1 |
| 1900s | 70.0% | 70.0% | 70.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 63.0% | 63.0% | 63.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 54.4% | 54.4% | 54.4% | 1 |
| 1930s | 50.6% | 50.6% | 50.6% | 1 |
| 1940s | 46.7% | 46.7% | 46.7% | 1 |
| 1950s | 38.9% | 32.6% | 48.1% | 8 |
| 1960s | 24.8% | 19.9% | 31.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.2% | 13.1% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.6% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.3% | 6.2% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More agriculture & rural data for Japan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0096 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 323.87 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.0% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of agriculture in total employment in Japan?
- Share of agriculture in total employment in Japan was 4.6% in 2012, 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 84.9% in 1872.
- What is the lowest share of agriculture in total employment recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2012.
- How does Japan rank for share of agriculture in total employment?
- Japan ranks 32nd out of 44 countries with data for 2012.
- Is share of agriculture in total employment rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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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