Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population was 18.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa is 18.8%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa peaked at 22.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 84th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.2% | — |
| 1992 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 22.1% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 21.9% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 21.7% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 21.5% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 21.0% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 20.7% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 19.7% | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 19.2% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 17.1% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 17.7% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 17.6% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 16.5% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 17.6% | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 16.1% | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 15.4% | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 16.8% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 21.4% | +30.8% |
| 2021 | 21.3% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 19.3% | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 18.8% | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.6% | 20.7% | 22.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.4% | 17.1% | 20.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.0% | 14.0% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 18.8% | 21.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa?
- Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in South Africa was 18.8% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employment in agriculture vs. urban population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.