While agriculture's share of the global workforce is declining, the profound reality is that nearly one in four working adults still depends on this sector for their livelihood, a vast and diverse human network of over 884 million people feeding the world.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, agriculture employed 26.1% of the total global workforce, equating to about 884 million people aged 15 and above.
- Globally, the share of employment in agriculture declined from 40.6% in 2000 to 26.1% in 2022.
- In 2021, approximately 1.1 billion people were employed in agriculture worldwide when including informal and self-employed workers.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture employed 53.5% of total employment in 2022, with 181 million workers.
- Nigeria's agricultural employment share was 69.9% in 2021, employing over 50 million people.
- In Ethiopia, 61.2% of the workforce was in agriculture in 2022, totaling 28 million employed.
- In Asia, agriculture employed 1.6 billion people in 2022, 28% of regional total employment.
- India's agricultural workforce numbered 263 million in 2022, 42.3% of total employment.
- China's farm employment was 22.4% in 2022, about 179 million workers.
- In North America, agriculture employed 1.8% of total workforce in 2022, about 5 million workers.
- United States farm employment averaged 2.59 million in 2022, 1.6% of nonfarm total.
- Mexico's agricultural employment was 12.2% in 2022, 6.8 million workers.
- In Europe, agriculture employed 4.2% of total workforce in 2022, about 9 million workers.
- France's farm employment was 2.5% in 2022, 778,000 workers.
- Germany's agricultural workforce numbered 665,000 in 2022, 1.6% of total.
Global agricultural employment is steadily declining but remains vital in developing nations.
Africa
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture employed 53.5% of total employment in 2022, with 181 million workers.
- Nigeria's agricultural employment share was 69.9% in 2021, employing over 50 million people.
- In Ethiopia, 61.2% of the workforce was in agriculture in 2022, totaling 28 million employed.
- South Africa's farm employment stood at 810,000 workers in 2022, 4.5% of total employment.
- In Kenya, agriculture employed 40% of the labor force in 2021, about 8.5 million people.
- Tanzania's agricultural sector employed 65% of workers in 2022, roughly 18 million.
- In Ghana, 44.8% employment in agriculture in 2021, with 5.2 million workers.
- Egypt's agricultural employment was 11.1% of total in 2022, employing 4.8 million.
- In Uganda, 68% of employment was agricultural in 2021, 14 million workers.
- Morocco employed 29.5% in agriculture in 2022, about 3.4 million people.
- In Algeria, agriculture's share was 11.8% in 2021, 1.9 million workers.
- Zimbabwe's farm employment reached 70% of workforce in 2022, over 4 million.
- In Côte d'Ivoire, 52% agricultural employment in 2021, 4.8 million workers.
- Senegal's agriculture employed 44% in 2022, about 3 million people.
- In Malawi, 80.3% of employment was in agriculture in 2021, 7.5 million workers.
- Zambia employed 61% in agriculture in 2022, 4.2 million.
- In Madagascar, 81% workforce in agriculture 2021, 10 million employed.
- Cameroon's agricultural employment was 63.8% in 2022, 5.8 million workers.
- In Sudan, agriculture employed 80% of labor force in 2021 pre-conflict.
- Rwanda's farm jobs were 74% of total employment in 2022, 4.5 million.
- In Burkina Faso, 82% employed in agriculture 2021, 8 million workers.
- DR Congo agriculture employment 61.4% in 2022, 32 million.
- In Niger, 87% workforce agricultural in 2021, 7.5 million.
- Mozambique employed 72% in agriculture 2022, 10.5 million workers.
Africa Interpretation
While Africa's economic narrative is one of rapid diversification, the continent's soil stubbornly remains its most demanding employer, still feeding, clothing, and sustaining the livelihoods of a majority who till the land, from the staggering 87% in Niger to the more diversified but still rooted 40% in Kenya.
Americas
- In North America, agriculture employed 1.8% of total workforce in 2022, about 5 million workers.
- United States farm employment averaged 2.59 million in 2022, 1.6% of nonfarm total.
- Mexico's agricultural employment was 12.2% in 2022, 6.8 million workers.
- Brazil agriculture employed 9.4% of workforce in 2022, 9.5 million people.
- Canada's farm jobs totaled 248,000 in 2022, 1.2% of total employment.
- Argentina's agricultural sector employed 7.1% in 2021, 1.6 million workers.
- Colombia agriculture 16.8% employment 2022, 4 million.
- Peru employed 25.8% in agriculture 2022, 3.7 million workers.
- Chile's farm employment 9.5% in 2021, 0.9 million.
- Venezuela agriculture 7.3% workforce 2022 estimate, 0.9 million workers.
- Ecuador employed 27.1% in agriculture 2021, 2.2 million.
- Bolivia's agricultural employment 26.1% 2022, 1.5 million workers.
- Paraguay agriculture 23.4% employment 2021, 0.8 million.
- Uruguay farm jobs 5.6% total 2022, 0.1 million workers.
- Guatemala employed 32.7% in agriculture 2022, 2 million.
- Honduras agriculture 28.9% workforce 2021, 1.3 million.
- El Salvador's farm employment 17.4% 2022, 0.4 million workers.
- Nicaragua agriculture 31.6% employment 2021, 1 million.
- Costa Rica employed 12.1% in agriculture 2022, 0.3 million workers.
- Panama's agricultural sector 15.3% 2021, 0.3 million.
- Dominican Republic agriculture 13.9% workforce 2022, 0.7 million.
Americas Interpretation
The data paints a stark, almost satirical picture: while many Northern American economies have industrialized to the point where farming is a niche career, a significant and vital swath of the hemisphere still quite literally lives off the land.
Asia
- In Asia, agriculture employed 1.6 billion people in 2022, 28% of regional total employment.
- India's agricultural workforce numbered 263 million in 2022, 42.3% of total employment.
- China's farm employment was 22.4% in 2022, about 179 million workers.
- Indonesia's agriculture employed 29.5% of workforce in 2022, 40 million people.
- Pakistan agriculture employment 41.3% in 2021, 45 million workers.
- Bangladesh employed 40.6% in agriculture 2022, 27 million.
- Vietnam's agricultural sector had 27.6% employment share in 2022, 15.5 million workers.
- Philippines agriculture employed 22.3% in 2022, 10 million people.
- Thailand's farm employment was 30.4% in 2021, 10.8 million workers.
- Myanmar agriculture 48.1% employment in 2022, 14 million.
- Nepal employed 62.1% in agriculture 2021, 7.5 million workers.
- Sri Lanka's agricultural workforce was 25.8% in 2022, 4.2 million.
- Uzbekistan agriculture employment 27.5% in 2021, 4.8 million people.
- Kazakhstan farm jobs 18.4% of total in 2022, 1.5 million workers.
- Cambodia's agriculture employed 42.1% in 2022, 3.4 million.
- Laos agriculture share 61.8% employment 2021, 2 million workers.
- In Malaysia, agriculture employed 9.7% in 2022, 1.5 million people.
- Afghanistan agriculture 43.2% workforce 2021, 7 million workers.
- Mongolia's farm employment 26.6% in 2022, 0.5 million.
Asia Interpretation
While Asia feeds the world, its own farmers are becoming a relative minority, a remarkable but precarious transition where the fields of India and Nepal still employ armies while China modernizes and Malaysia opts out.
Demographics
- Worldwide, 39% of agricultural workers are women, often in unpaid family roles.
- In the US, 28% of farmworkers are women as of 2022.
- Globally, 60% of agricultural labor is family-based, mostly unpaid.
- Youth (15-24) comprise 20-25% of global farm workforce.
- In India, 33% of agricultural workers are women, higher in planting seasons.
- Average age of US principal farm operators is 57.5 years in 2022.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, 50% of farm labor is female.
- 70% of global smallholder farmers are women or households led by women.
- In Mexico, 40% of rural agricultural workers are indigenous.
- Brazil farmworkers 55% male, 45% female in family farms 2022.
- Globally, migrants make up 15% of hired agricultural labor.
- In EU, 25% of seasonal farmworkers are non-EU migrants.
- China's rural farmworkers average age 50+ years in 2022.
- In Vietnam, women perform 60% of agricultural labor time.
- Nigeria 45% female agricultural workforce, mostly informal.
- In Australia, 35% of farm operators are women in 2022.
- Global child labor in agriculture 70% boys, 30% girls aged 5-17.
- In Ethiopia, 65% of farm labor by women and children.
- US hired farmworkers 42% foreign-born in 2022.
- In Indonesia, 50% agricultural workers over 45 years old.
- South Africa farmworkers 60% under 35, high turnover.
- In France, 20% farm holders are women under 40 in 2022.
- Global vulnerable employment in agriculture 70% own-account or family.
- In Bangladesh, 55% women in agriculture are unpaid family workers.
- Kenya 52% female participation in ag labor force.
- In Germany, 80% farm family members assist unpaid.
Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a global portrait where agriculture, the literal foundation of civilization, is predominantly carried on the backs of unpaid or underpaid women, aging populations, and migrant labor, a quietly precarious arrangement for something we all need three times a day.
Europe and Oceania
- In Europe, agriculture employed 4.2% of total workforce in 2022, about 9 million workers.
- France's farm employment was 2.5% in 2022, 778,000 workers.
- Germany's agricultural workforce numbered 665,000 in 2022, 1.6% of total.
- UK's farm jobs totaled 476,000 in 2022, 1.5% employment share.
- Italy agriculture employed 3.7% in 2022, 890,000 workers.
- Spain's agricultural employment 4.1% 2022, 900,000 seasonal peak.
- Poland farm workforce 9.6% in 2021, 1.6 million workers.
- Netherlands agriculture employed 2.0% in 2022, 170,000.
- Russia's agricultural employment 6.5% 2022, 4.7 million.
- Ukraine pre-2022 agriculture 15.8% workforce, 2.7 million workers.
- Romania employed 24.2% in agriculture 2021, 2 million.
- Greece's farm jobs 10.9% 2022, 500,000 workers.
- Turkey agriculture 15.4% employment 2022, 6 million.
- Australia's agricultural employment was 2.5% in 2022, 320,000 workers.
- New Zealand farm workforce 6.2% 2022, 160,000.
- Hungary agriculture employed 5.3% 2021, 240,000 workers.
- Bulgaria's agricultural share 16.8% 2022, 560,000.
- Portugal farm employment 8.1% 2022, 380,000 workers.
- Croatia agriculture 5.7% workforce 2021, 100,000.
- Ireland's farm jobs 4.4% 2022, 110,000 workers.
- Sweden agriculture employed 2.2% 2022, 110,000.
Europe and Oceania Interpretation
Despite a continental average of a mere 4.2% feeding Europe, the vital agricultural workforce reveals a stark, often overlooked economic geography where a nation's development can be inversely measured by the percentage of its people still working the land.
Global Overview
- In 2022, agriculture employed 26.1% of the total global workforce, equating to about 884 million people aged 15 and above.
- Globally, the share of employment in agriculture declined from 40.6% in 2000 to 26.1% in 2022.
- In 2021, approximately 1.1 billion people were employed in agriculture worldwide when including informal and self-employed workers.
- Agriculture represents 27% of total employment in low-income countries globally as of 2020.
- Worldwide, women make up 39% of the agricultural workforce, totaling around 344 million female workers in 2022.
- In 2019, global agricultural employment productivity was $4,200 per worker annually.
- Agriculture employed 58% of workers in least developed countries globally in 2021.
- From 2015 to 2022, global agricultural employment decreased by 3.4% annually on average.
- In 2020, 68% of global child laborers aged 5-17 were in agriculture.
- Global agricultural employment share was 28.9% in 2018 for those in vulnerable employment.
- In 2022, agriculture contributed to 25.3% of total employment in developing regions globally.
- Worldwide, youth aged 15-24 comprised 22% of agricultural workers in 2021.
- Global average hours worked in agriculture per worker was 1,780 annually in 2019.
- In 2023 estimates, agriculture employs 24.8% of the global labor force.
- Agriculture's share in global employment fell to 26% in 2022 from 29% in 2019 pre-COVID.
- Globally, 80% of agricultural workers are in family farming in 2022.
- In 2021, informal employment in agriculture reached 86% of total agricultural jobs worldwide.
- Global agricultural employment density was 0.12 workers per hectare in 2018.
- In 2020, agriculture employed 2.5 billion people when counting all forms of engagement.
- Worldwide, male agricultural workers outnumber females by 1.6 to 1 in 2022.
- Global peak agricultural employment occurs in Q3, averaging 30% higher than annual mean.
- In 2017, 500 million smallholder farmers represented 80% of global food production employment.
- Agriculture's employment multiplier effect globally is 2.6 jobs per farm job in 2021.
- In 2022, 12% of global migrant workers were in agriculture.
- Global agricultural employment growth rate was -0.5% from 2021-2022.
- In 2019, agriculture employed 70% of rural workforce globally.
- Worldwide, underemployment in agriculture affected 35% of workers in 2020.
- Global female-headed agricultural households employ 20% more family labor.
- In 2022, agriculture's share of total employment was 4.1% in high-income countries globally.
- Globally, seasonal agricultural workers numbered 300 million in 2021.
Global Overview Interpretation
While agriculture remains the world’s silent, straining giant—feeding us all on the backs of nearly a billion people, a quarter of the global workforce—its story is one of deep paradox, marked by a slow but steady exodus from the fields, staggering informality and underemployment, and a stubborn, heart-wrenching reliance on child labor, proving that the foundation of our food system is both indispensable and, for too many, a trap of vulnerability.
Trends Over Time
- US agricultural employment share declined from 1.8% in 2012 to 1.6% in 2022.
- Global agriculture employment dropped 2.1% from 2020 to 2022 due to urbanization.
- In India, farm jobs fell from 58.2% in 2001 to 42.3% in 2022.
- China agricultural employment decreased 10.5% from 2017 to 2022.
- Sub-Saharan Africa agriculture share rose from 52% in 2010 to 53.5% in 2022.
- Brazil farm employment declined 1.2% annually 2015-2022.
- EU-27 agriculture employment halved from 1997 to 2022, to 8.5 million.
- Vietnam agriculture share dropped from 48% in 2010 to 27.6% in 2022.
- Nigeria farm employment grew 1.8% yearly 2010-2021.
- In Ethiopia, agriculture employed 72% in 2010 vs 61.2% in 2022.
- Indonesia agriculture declined from 38.5% in 2010 to 29.5% 2022.
- Mexico farm jobs fell 15% from 2015 to 2022.
- Bangladesh agriculture share from 51% 2000 to 40.6% 2022.
- Russia agriculture employment stable at 6-7% 2010-2022.
- Australia farm employment up 5% post-2020 drought recovery by 2022.
- France agriculture declined 0.8% annually 2015-2022.
- Global female agriculture share stable at 39% 2000-2022.
- Youth agricultural employment globally down 25% 2010-2022.
- In Pakistan, farm jobs grew to 45 million by 2021 from 40m in 2015.
- South Africa agriculture employment down 20% 2010-2022.
- In Peru, agriculture share stable 25-27% 2010-2022.
- Turkey farm employment declined 8% 2015-2022.
- Global informal ag employment 86% unchanged 2015-2021.
- US seasonal farmworkers increased 3% 2020-2022.
- In Ghana, agriculture share fell from 50% 2010 to 44.8% 2021.
- Poland agriculture halved from 20% 2000 to 9.6% 2021.
Trends Over Time Interpretation
While the world steadily plows its workforce into other sectors, a stubborn, informal core remains tilling the soil, proving that despite automation and urbanization, agriculture still has us by the roots.
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