Share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa
South Africa: Share of agriculture in total employment was 16.8% in 2011. ▼ Falling
Latest (2011)
16.8%
Change on year
up 12.0%
World rank
20th
of 44 countries
All-time high
48.8%
in 1960
All-time low
13.6%
in 2007
Years of data
52
1960–2011
Share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa, 1960–2011
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2011, share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa stood at 16.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.0% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa peaked at 48.8% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2007.
South Africa ranks 20th of 44 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 48.8% | — |
| 1961 | 47.4% | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 46.2% | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 44.9% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 43.2% | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 41.6% | -3.7% |
| 1966 | 40.3% | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 38.9% | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 37.4% | -3.9% |
| 1969 | 36.2% | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 34.7% | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 34.2% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 33.7% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 33.0% | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 32.3% | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 31.5% | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 30.6% | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 29.6% | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 28.5% | -3.7% |
| 1979 | 27.3% | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 26.0% | -4.8% |
| 1981 | 25.9% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 25.7% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 25.6% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 25.3% | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 25.1% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 25.0% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 24.0% | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 23.0% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 22.2% | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 21.5% | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 20.8% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 20.7% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 20.6% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 20.4% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 20.0% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 19.7% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 19.4% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 19.0% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 18.7% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 17.2% | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 20.6% | +19.8% |
| 2003 | 17.4% | -15.5% |
| 2004 | 16.2% | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 14.3% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 15.6% | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 13.6% | -12.8% |
| 2008 | 14.0% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 14.2% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 15.0% | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 16.8% | +12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 42.5% | 36.2% | 48.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.5% | 27.3% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.8% | 22.2% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.2% | 19.0% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 13.6% | 20.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.9% | 15.0% | 16.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa?
- Share of agriculture in total employment in South Africa was 16.8% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.8% in 1960.
- What is the lowest share of agriculture in total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for share of agriculture in total employment?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 44 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of agriculture in total employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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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