Share of employment in agriculture in South Africa
South Africa: Share of employment in agriculture was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture in South Africa, 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 Africa is 5.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture in South Africa peaked at 9.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 130th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.4% | — |
| 1992 | 9.5% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 9.0% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | +12.8% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | -9.7% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | -22.6% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 5.7% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -9.2% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +21.6% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.2% | 8.8% | 9.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 5.0% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 127 Chile 6.1% compare
- 128 Oman 5.9% compare
- 129 New Zealand 5.4% compare
- 131 Russian Federation 5.1% compare
- 132 Republic of Korea 5.1% compare
- 133 Mauritius 4.7% compare
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 employment in agriculture in South Africa?
- Share of employment in agriculture in South Africa was 5.4% 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for share of employment in agriculture?
- South Africa ranks 130th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of employment in agriculture rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.