Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population was 38.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
38.7%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
40th
of 186 countries
All-time high
38.7%
in 2023
All-time low
25.7%
in 2010
Years of data
33
1991–2023

Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea, 1991–2023

0102030401991200720231991: 32.4 %1992: 32.1 %1993: 31.8 %1994: 31.7 %1995: 31.6 %1996: 31 %1997: 31 %1998: 30.8 %1999: 30.7 %2000: 30.9 %2001: 30.5 %2002: 30.5 %2003: 30 %2004: 29.3 %2005: 28.7 %2006: 28 %2007: 27.2 %2008: 27 %2009: 26.5 %2010: 25.7 %2011: 26.6 %2012: 27.6 %2013: 28.5 %2014: 29.2 %2015: 30.1 %2016: 31.2 %2017: 32.3 %2018: 33.4 %2019: 34.5 %2020: 36.1 %2021: 37.3 %2022: 38.7 %2023: 38.7 %

Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Papua New Guinea recorded 38.7% for employment in agriculture vs. urban population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.

The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 36.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea peaked at 38.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 25.7%, in 2010.

Papua New Guinea ranks 40th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.

Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea, year by year

Annual values for Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea, 1991 to 2023.
Year % Change
1991 32.4%
1992 32.1% -1.1%
1993 31.8% -1.0%
1994 31.7% -0.3%
1995 31.6% -0.3%
1996 31.0% -1.7%
1997 31.0% -0.0%
1998 30.8% -0.7%
1999 30.7% -0.2%
2000 30.9% +0.5%
2001 30.5% -1.2%
2002 30.5% -0.2%
2003 30.0% -1.5%
2004 29.3% -2.3%
2005 28.7% -2.2%
2006 28.0% -2.6%
2007 27.2% -2.6%
2008 27.0% -0.9%
2009 26.5% -1.6%
2010 25.7% -3.0%
2011 26.6% +3.5%
2012 27.6% +3.4%
2013 28.5% +3.3%
2014 29.2% +2.5%
2015 30.1% +3.2%
2016 31.2% +3.5%
2017 32.3% +3.6%
2018 33.4% +3.5%
2019 34.5% +3.3%
2020 36.1% +4.7%
2021 37.3% +3.5%
2022 38.7% +3.5%
2023 38.7% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 31.5% 30.7% 32.4% 9
2000s 28.9% 26.5% 30.9% 10
2010s 29.9% 25.7% 34.5% 10
2020s 37.7% 36.1% 38.7% 4

Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea

  1. 37 Georgia 39.9% compare
  2. 38 Sudan 39.8% compare
  3. 39 Liberia 38.9% compare
  4. 41 Solomon Islands 37.6% compare
  5. 42 Timor-Leste 36.8% compare
  6. 43 Pakistan 36.1% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Papua New Guinea

All data for Papua New Guinea →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea?
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea was 38.7% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 2023.
What is the lowest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
The lowest recorded value was 25.7% in 2010.
How does Papua New Guinea rank for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
Papua New Guinea ranks 40th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
Is employment in agriculture vs. urban population rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
Over the last ten years it is up 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Papua New Guinea. Statizoid, drawing on ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-in-agri-vs-urban-pop/papua-new-guinea/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population
Unit
%
Source
ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,134 data points, 1991–2023
Last refreshed

The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.