Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Countries By Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Key points
- With employment in agriculture accounting for 85.32% of total employment, Burundi has the highest dependency on agriculture among the listed countries.
- On the other hand, Singapore has the lowest dependency on agriculture, with only 0.12% of total employment engaged in the agriculture sector.
- The average employment in agriculture across all listed countries is 24.41%, indicating the varying degrees of reliance on agriculture for employment globally.
- Countries with high employment in agriculture may face challenges in diversifying their economies and reducing reliance on this sector for employment opportunities.
- Conversely, countries with low employment in agriculture may have shifted towards more industrialized or service-based economies, indicating a higher level of economic development.
Official Definition of Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The agriculture sector consists of activities in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, in accordance with division 1 (ISIC 2) or categories A-B (ISIC 3) or category A (ISIC 4).
Importance
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) is a crucial macroeconomic statistic for a country as it provides insights into the country's economic structure and development.
- A high value of this statistic indicates that a significant portion of the population is employed in the
agriculture sector. This can have implications such as:
- High dependence on agriculture for livelihoods, reflecting less diversification in the economy.
- Potential challenges related to modernization, technological advancements, and productivity improvements in other sectors.
- Vulnerability to fluctuations in agricultural output, weather conditions, and global market prices.
- On the other hand, a low value of this statistic signifies a lower share of employment in the agriculture
sector. This can imply:
- Greater economic diversification with more employment opportunities in other sectors like manufacturing, services, and technology.
- Higher levels of industrialization and urbanization in the country.
- Increased resilience to fluctuations in agricultural production and global market dynamics.
Top 10 Countries by Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Bottom 10 Countries by Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Regions
Europe
The employment in agriculture (% of total employment) varies greatly among the listed countries. Moldova has the highest percentage at 57.78%, indicating a significant reliance on agriculture for jobs, while Belgium has the lowest at 0.92%. Countries like Albania, Romania, and Ukraine also have relatively high percentages, suggesting a large agricultural workforce. This statistic implies that these countries may have advantages in food production but could face challenges in diversifying their economies. For Moldova, the reliance on agriculture could mean vulnerability to fluctuations in the sector, whereas Belgium's low percentage may reflect a more advanced economy with less dependence on traditional agricultural practices. Overall, this statistic impacts each country's development by influencing employment opportunities, economic stability, and sectoral growth.
Far East: East Asia, SE Asia, Australia
Among the countries listed, Laos has the highest percentage of employment in agriculture, indicating a significant reliance on the agricultural sector for employment. This high percentage suggests a potential vulnerability to fluctuations in the agricultural market. On the other hand, Singapore has the lowest percentage, reflecting a more diversified economy with less dependence on agriculture. While a high percentage of agricultural employment like in Myanmar and Cambodia may signal underdevelopment in other sectors, countries like Malaysia and Thailand strike a better balance. The impact of this statistic on development varies, with more agricultural-focused economies facing challenges in modernizing and diversifying, while those with lower percentages are better positioned for economic resilience and growth.
ASEAN
The statistic "Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)" provides insights into the labor distribution within the selected countries. Laos has the highest percentage at 66.37%, indicating a significant reliance on agriculture for employment. This reliance is also substantial in countries like Myanmar (46.47%), Cambodia (36.90%), and Vietnam (32.61%). While agriculture can provide livelihoods, it may reflect lower industrialization levels and productivity compared to more diversified economies like Malaysia (10.47%) and Singapore (0.12%). For each country, this statistic influences development differently; high agricultural employment can imply vulnerability to sector-specific risks but also food security, while lower reliance can suggest a shift towards higher value-added industries and services.
Latin America
The employment in agriculture (% of total employment) statistic reveals a varied landscape among the listed countries. Peru and Ecuador stand out with the highest percentages at 33.66% and 31.77% respectively, indicating a significant reliance on agriculture for employment. These countries may benefit from a large labor force in the agriculture sector, but face vulnerabilities to fluctuations in agricultural productivity. Conversely, countries like Chile and Argentina have lower percentages around 7-8%, signaling a more diversified labor market. While this can enhance economic resilience, it may also imply a smaller agricultural workforce to support food security. Overall, the statistic underscores the importance of balancing employment diversification with sector-specific strengths to drive sustainable development strategies for each country.
Middle East
The data on Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) for the listed countries varies significantly, with Armenia having the highest percentage at 52.38% and Bahrain the lowest at 0.94%. Countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Morocco also have relatively high percentages, indicating a larger reliance on agriculture for employment. While a high percentage in agriculture can imply a traditional economy with limited diversification, it also signifies food security and rural livelihoods. Conversely, countries with lower percentages like Israel and the United Arab Emirates have more diversified economies, but may face challenges in ensuring food self-sufficiency. Overall, this statistic underscores each country's economic structure, development priorities, and potential vulnerabilities.
Rivals
Anglosphere v BRICS
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) serves as a key indicator of a country's economic structure. In this dataset, India stands out with 44.68% of total employment in agriculture, reflecting its heavy reliance on the sector. China follows at 23.60%, indicating a significant agricultural workforce. On the other hand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States have low percentages, signaling diversified economies. India and China benefit from a large agricultural labor force but face challenges like low productivity. In contrast, countries like the United States have less vulnerability to agricultural fluctuations but may lack certain cultural ties to the land. Overall, this statistic highlights the differing development paths and vulnerabilities of these nations.
Russia v Ukraine
In the Russian Federation, employment in agriculture stands at 6.00%, indicating a relatively low reliance on the agricultural sector for employment. Conversely, Ukraine has a higher percentage at 15.27%, reflecting a greater dependence on agriculture for jobs. For Russia, this low figure suggests a diversified economy with less vulnerability to agricultural market fluctuations. However, it may indicate a potential disconnect between rural and urban development. In contrast, Ukraine's higher proportion signifies a significant rural workforce but also raises concerns about modernization and efficiency in the agricultural sector. This statistic underscores the need for Ukraine to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce reliance on traditional labor-intensive practices for sustainable economic growth.
France v United Kingdom
In terms of employment in agriculture (% of total employment), France has a higher percentage at 2.35% compared to the United Kingdom at 1.03%. This indicates that a larger proportion of the workforce in France is employed in the agriculture sector compared to the UK. For France, this reliance on agriculture can provide stability and tradition to rural communities but may also limit diversification and technological advancement in other sectors. On the other hand, the UK's lower reliance on agriculture suggests a more diversified economy with potentially higher productivity and innovation in non-agricultural industries. The impact of this statistic on each country's development lies in the balance between traditional agricultural practices and modern economic growth strategies.
Israel v Iran
In Iran, approximately 16.73% of the total employment is in the agriculture sector, indicating a significant reliance on agricultural activities for job opportunities. This high percentage suggests a traditional economy with a large agricultural base. In contrast, Israel has only 0.91% of total employment in agriculture, showcasing a more diversified and advanced economy with lesser dependence on agriculture. Iran may benefit from a stable food supply and rural employment opportunities but could face challenges in modernizing its economy. Israel's advantage lies in its technological advancements and higher productivity outside agriculture, but it may need to address potential issues of food security and rural livelihoods. The statistic reflects differing development paths and priorities for these countries.
Saudi Arabia v Iran
Iran has a higher percentage of employment in agriculture at 16.73% compared to Saudi Arabia's 3.17%. This indicates that Iran relies more on its agricultural sector for employment opportunities than Saudi Arabia. While a high percentage in agriculture can showcase a strong connection to traditional practices and food security, it may also signify a lower level of industrialization and diversification, potentially hindering overall economic growth. In contrast, Saudi Arabia's lower reliance on agriculture suggests a more diversified economy with a greater focus on other sectors like oil and services, which can lead to higher income levels and technological advancement. Overall, the data implies that Iran may face challenges in transitioning to a more diverse economy compared to Saudi Arabia.
India v Pakistan
India has a higher employment in agriculture (% of total employment) compared to Pakistan, with 44.68% of its workforce engaged in agricultural activities, while Pakistan has 38.01%. This indicates that India relies more heavily on agriculture for job opportunities compared to Pakistan. For India, the advantage lies in sustaining a large labor force in agriculture, which can support food security and rural livelihoods. However, this heavy reliance on agriculture also poses a risk in terms of vulnerability to fluctuations in the agricultural sector. In contrast, Pakistan may have a slight advantage in diversification away from agriculture, which can reduce dependence on a single sector. The impact of this statistic on development varies: India's challenge lies in transitioning these workers to more productive industries to drive overall economic growth, while Pakistan may need to ensure the successful transition of its workforce to maintain competitiveness and reduce rural poverty.
Turkey v Greece
In Greece, 10.29% of total employment is in the agriculture sector, while in Turkey this percentage is higher at 17.55%. Turkey relies more heavily on agricultural employment compared to Greece, indicating a larger agricultural sector in Turkey. The advantage for Greece is a more diversified labor market, potentially leading to greater economic stability. However, Turkey's higher agricultural employment may indicate a stronger agricultural industry, providing food security and serving as a source of exports. Despite this, a high dependency on agriculture can also pose risks in the face of market volatility. This statistic suggests that developing industries beyond agriculture could be beneficial for both countries, improving overall economic resilience and reducing vulnerability to fluctuations in the agricultural sector.
China v Japan
China, People's Republic of, has a relatively high percentage of employment in agriculture at 23.60%, indicating a significant portion of its workforce is engaged in the agricultural sector. In contrast, Japan only has 3.15% of total employment in agriculture, highlighting a more diversified economy with fewer people working in this sector. For China, a high agricultural employment percentage can provide food security and support rural livelihoods but may hinder industrial advancements. Conversely, Japan's low reliance on agriculture allows for innovation in other industries but could pose challenges in maintaining food self-sufficiency. This statistic reflects differing development paths and economic priorities for both countries.
FAQs
- Which country has the most Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)?
Burundi has the highest percentage of employment in agriculture, with 85.32% of total employment in the country. - Which country has the least Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)?
Singapore has the lowest percentage of employment in agriculture, with only 0.12% of total employment in the country. - What is the average Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) among the listed
countries?
The average percentage of employment in agriculture across all countries is approximately 24.41%. - How is Employment in agriculture defined for this statistic?
Employment in agriculture is defined as persons of working age engaged in activities related to agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing for pay or profit, whether actively working or temporarily absent. - How does the Employment in agriculture statistic impact a country's economy?
A high percentage of employment in agriculture can indicate a reliance on traditional, less efficient farming methods, potentially hindering economic diversification and development.