Share of employment in agriculture in South Korea
South Korea: Share of employment in agriculture was 5.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026); Broadberry and Gardner (2013); International Labor Organization (via World Bank) (2013) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment in agriculture in South Korea is 5.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture in South Korea peaked at 15.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2017.
That places South Korea 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.5% | — |
| 1992 | 13.3% | -13.8% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 11.9% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 11.2% | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | -5.4% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | +11.9% |
| 1999 | 10.8% | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 10.4% | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 9.9% | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 7.5% | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 6.0% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 5.4% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 5.3% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 5.1% | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 10.2% | 15.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 6.6% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 4.8% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More agriculture & rural data for South Korea
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture in South Korea?
- Share of employment in agriculture in South Korea was 5.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026); Broadberry and Gardner (2013); International Labor Organization (via World Bank) (2013) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2017.
- How does South Korea rank for share of employment in agriculture?
- South Korea ranks 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of employment in agriculture rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026); Broadberry and Gardner (2013); International Labor Organization (via World Bank) (2013) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of working people employed in agriculture, including hunting, forestry and fishing.