Employment in agriculture — all countries

Employment in agriculture — China

Employment in agriculture in China in 2025 — 21.7%. Ranked 79 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 38 pp.

2025 21.7% −0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank 79of 182
Period maximum 59.6%1991
Period minimum 21.7%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in agriculture — China, 1991–2025203040506019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 59.6%1992: 58.5%1993: 56.4%1994: 54.3%1995: 52.2%1996: 50.5%1997: 49.9%1998: 49.8%1999: 50.1%2000: 50%2001: 50%2002: 50%2003: 49.1%2004: 46.9%2005: 44.8%2006: 42.6%2007: 40.8%2008: 39.6%2009: 38.1%2010: 36.7%2011: 34.8%2012: 33.6%2013: 31.4%2014: 29.5%2015: 28.3%2016: 27.4%2017: 26.7%2018: 25.8%2019: 24.7%2020: 23.6%2021: 22.9%2022: 24.1%2023: 22.8%2024: 22.2%2025: 21.7%
Change over the period: −38 pp Annual average: -1.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: China

China 21.7%
World 25.8%
Eastern Asia computed 20.2%
Employment in agriculture — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 21.7 −0.5 pp
2024 22.2 −0.6 pp
2023 22.8 −1.3 pp
2022 24.1 +1.2 pp
2021 22.9 −0.7 pp
2020 23.6 −1.1 pp
2019 24.7 −1 pp
2018 25.8 −0.9 pp
2017 26.7 −0.7 pp
2016 27.4 −0.9 pp
2015 28.3 −1.2 pp
2014 29.5 −1.9 pp
2013 31.4 −2.2 pp
2012 33.6 −1.2 pp
2011 34.8 −1.9 pp
2010 36.7 −1.4 pp
2009 38.1 −1.5 pp
2008 39.6 −1.2 pp
2007 40.8 −1.8 pp
2006 42.6 −2.2 pp
2005 44.8 −2.1 pp
2004 46.9 −2.2 pp
2003 49.1 −0.9 pp
2002 50 −0 pp
2001 50 −0 pp
2000 50 −0.1 pp
1999 50.1 +0.3 pp
1998 49.8 −0.1 pp
1997 49.9 −0.6 pp
1996 50.5 −1.7 pp
1995 52.2 −2.1 pp
1994 54.3 −2.1 pp
1993 56.4 −2.1 pp
1992 58.5 −1.1 pp
1991 59.6

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of total employment in agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing. Set against the share of agriculture in GDP it shows the productivity of the sector: if farming employs 50% of workers and produces 20% of GDP, labor productivity there is three times below the average for the economy.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.