Burkina Faso Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Burkina Faso's agriculture employment was 51.78% in 2025, ranked 162nd globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Burkina Faso's agriculture employment stood at 51.78% in 2025, a decline of +0.46% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 51.40% by 2026. Burkina Faso ranked 162nd globally.
Burkina Faso’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell from an all‑time peak of 82.01 % in 1992 to a trough of 51.57 % in 2019, reaching 51.78 % in 2025, which places the country 162nd globally. The 35‑year span shows a steady decline rather than short‑term volatility, reflecting structural shifts such as urban migration and modest growth in services and industry. By comparison, Afghanistan recorded a similar share of 51.63 % and Angola 51.95 % in the same year, underscoring that Burkina Faso now aligns with other low‑income economies where agriculture no longer dominates employment. The persistent downward trajectory suggests that without targeted policies to boost agricultural productivity, rural incomes may stagnate, while continued diversification could further reduce agricultural employment. Future changes in climate resilience, investment in agro‑industry, or demographic pressures will likely shape whether the share of workers in farming continues to contract or stabilises at its current level.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 50.58% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 50.99% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 51.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 51.78% | −0.46% | #162 |
| 2024 | 52.23% | −0.46% | #163 |
| 2023 | 52.70% | −0.41% | #164 |
| 2022 | 53.11% | −0.29% | #164 |
| 2021 | 53.40% | +0.45% | #164 |
| 2020 | 52.95% | +1.38% | #165 |
| 2019 | 51.57% | −1.47% | #165 |
| 2018 | 53.04% | −1.55% | #164 |
| 2017 | 54.58% | −1.58% | #166 |
| 2016 | 56.16% | −1.45% | #167 |
| 2015 | 57.61% | −1.11% | #168 |
| 2014 | 58.72% | −1.12% | #169 |
| 2013 | 59.84% | −1.24% | #170 |
| 2012 | 61.08% | −1.31% | #169 |
| 2011 | 62.38% | −1.39% | #170 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Burkina Faso matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Burkina Faso's agriculture employment was 51.78% in 2025. Ranked 162nd globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Burkina Faso's agriculture employment peaked at 82.01% in 1992.
The lowest agriculture employment in Burkina Faso was 51.57% in 2019.
Burkina Faso ranks 162nd globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Burkina Faso's agriculture employment is projected to reach 51.40% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Burkina Faso in 2025 was 51.78%. This ranks 162nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_burkina-faso_agriculture-employment,
title = {Burkina Faso Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/burkina-faso/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}