China Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
China's agriculture employment was 21.68% in 2025, ranked 104th globally. This represents a 2.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
China's agriculture employment stood at 21.68% in 2025, a decline of +0.54% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 21.45% by 2026. China ranked 104th globally.
China’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture has fallen dramatically over the 35‑year span from 1991 to 2025, dropping from an all‑time peak of 59.64 percent in 1991 to a trough of 21.68 percent in 2025, the latter placing the country 104th globally. This steep decline reflects sustained structural transformation, urbanisation and the expansion of manufacturing and services, which have absorbed former farm workers while productivity gains on the land have reduced the need for labour. The 2025 figure is comparable to that of Turkmenistan (21.93 percent) and only slightly above Namibia’s 22.34 percent, underscoring how China’s agricultural employment now resembles that of relatively small, less‑industrialised economies. The downward trajectory is likely to continue as the government pursues further rural‑to‑urban migration, advances mechanisation, and promotes high‑value agricultural niches, unless policy shifts reinvigorate farm employment through incentives or labour‑intensive agro‑processing.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 20.60% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 21.03% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 21.45% | - | - |
| 2025 | 21.68% | −0.54% | #104 |
| 2024 | 22.22% | −0.58% | #104 |
| 2023 | 22.80% | −1.28% | #106 |
| 2022 | 24.08% | +1.21% | #109 |
| 2021 | 22.87% | −0.73% | #107 |
| 2020 | 23.60% | −1.12% | #108 |
| 2019 | 24.72% | −1.03% | #113 |
| 2018 | 25.75% | −0.93% | #113 |
| 2017 | 26.68% | −0.74% | #113 |
| 2016 | 27.42% | −0.88% | #114 |
| 2015 | 28.30% | −1.20% | #115 |
| 2014 | 29.50% | −1.90% | #118 |
| 2013 | 31.40% | −2.20% | #120 |
| 2012 | 33.60% | −1.20% | #124 |
| 2011 | 34.80% | −1.90% | #123 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
China matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2013. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
China's agriculture employment was 21.68% in 2025. Ranked 104th globally. This represents a 2.4% decrease from the previous year.
China's agriculture employment peaked at 59.64% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in China was 21.68% in 2025.
China ranks 104th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
China's agriculture employment is projected to reach 21.45% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of China in 2025 was 21.68%. This ranks 104th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_china_agriculture-employment,
title = {China Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/china/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}