Share of agriculture in total employment in United States of America
United States of America: Share of agriculture in total employment was 1.4% in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
1.4%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
41st
of 44 countries
All-time high
63.1%
in 1840
All-time low
1.4%
in 2007
Years of data
96
1840–2015
Share of agriculture in total employment in United States of America, 1840–2015
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2015, share of agriculture in total employment in United States of America stood at 1.4%. That is the lowest value across all 96 years on record.
The figure is down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of agriculture in total employment in United States of America peaked at 63.1% in 1840 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2007.
That places United States of America 41st out of 44 countries with data for 2015, putting it 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 63.1% | — |
| 1850 | 54.8% | -13.2% |
| 1860 | 52.9% | -3.5% |
| 1870 | 52.5% | -0.8% |
| 1880 | 51.3% | -2.3% |
| 1890 | 42.7% | -16.8% |
| 1900 | 40.2% | -5.9% |
| 1910 | 31.4% | -21.9% |
| 1920 | 25.9% | -17.5% |
| 1929 | 18.9% | -27.0% |
| 1930 | 19.4% | +2.6% |
| 1931 | 20.9% | +7.7% |
| 1932 | 22.6% | +8.1% |
| 1933 | 22.5% | -0.4% |
| 1934 | 20.8% | -7.6% |
| 1935 | 20.4% | -1.9% |
| 1936 | 18.8% | -7.8% |
| 1937 | 17.9% | -4.8% |
| 1938 | 18.0% | +0.6% |
| 1939 | 16.9% | -6.1% |
| 1940 | 15.8% | -6.5% |
| 1941 | 14.2% | -10.1% |
| 1942 | 12.8% | -9.9% |
| 1943 | 11.3% | -11.7% |
| 1944 | 10.8% | -4.4% |
| 1945 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 11.8% | +9.3% |
| 1947 | 11.6% | -1.7% |
| 1948 | 11.4% | -1.7% |
| 1949 | 11.3% | -0.9% |
| 1950 | 10.9% | -3.5% |
| 1951 | 9.7% | -11.0% |
| 1952 | 9.3% | -4.1% |
| 1953 | 8.9% | -4.3% |
| 1954 | 9.2% | +3.4% |
| 1955 | 8.7% | -5.4% |
| 1956 | 8.2% | -5.7% |
| 1957 | 7.7% | -6.1% |
| 1958 | 7.7% | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 7.3% | -5.2% |
| 1960 | 7.0% | -4.1% |
| 1961 | 6.9% | -1.4% |
| 1962 | 6.5% | -5.8% |
| 1963 | 6.1% | -6.2% |
| 1964 | 5.7% | -6.6% |
| 1965 | 5.3% | -7.0% |
| 1966 | 4.7% | -11.3% |
| 1967 | 4.4% | -6.4% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.0% | -7.0% |
| 1970 | 4.0% | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3.9% | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 3.9% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3.5% | -7.9% |
| 1978 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 3.4% | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 3.4% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | -6.1% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | -9.7% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -33.3% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 63.1% | 63.1% | 63.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 54.8% | 54.8% | 54.8% | 1 |
| 1860s | 52.9% | 52.9% | 52.9% | 1 |
| 1870s | 52.5% | 52.5% | 52.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 51.3% | 51.3% | 51.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 42.7% | 42.7% | 42.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 40.2% | 40.2% | 40.2% | 1 |
| 1910s | 31.4% | 31.4% | 31.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 22.4% | 18.9% | 25.9% | 2 |
| 1930s | 19.8% | 16.9% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 1940s | 12.2% | 10.8% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 1950s | 8.8% | 7.3% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.5% | 4.0% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More agriculture & rural data for United States of America
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.96 % change on previous year (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0094 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 673.66 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1981 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2021)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2021)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of agriculture in total employment in United States of America?
- Share of agriculture in total employment in United States of America was 1.4% in 2015, 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 63.1% in 1840.
- What is the lowest share of agriculture in total employment recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2007.
- How does United States of America rank for share of agriculture in total employment?
- United States of America ranks 41st out of 44 countries with data for 2015.
- Is share of agriculture in total employment rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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
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