Eritrea Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Eritrea's agriculture employment was 55.48% in 2025, ranked 168th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Eritrea's agriculture employment stood at 55.48% in 2025, a decline of +0.52% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 55.00% by 2026. Eritrea ranked 168th globally.
Eritrea’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture has declined modestly over the 35‑year series, falling from an early‑1990s high of 60.21 % in 1992 to 53.45 % in the all‑time trough of 2002 before reaching 55.48 % in 2025, ranking 168th globally. The gradual reduction reflects structural shifts toward services and modest industrial expansion, yet agriculture remains the dominant employer relative to many peers; for example, Equatorial Guinea recorded 55.32 % and the Democratic Republic of Congo 58.52 % in the same year. The persistence of a high agricultural employment share underscores limited diversification and the sector’s vulnerability to climatic variability, which has historically amplified fluctuations in rural labour demand. Continued investment in agro‑processing, irrigation, and market access could accelerate the transition of workers to higher‑productivity activities, potentially lowering the agricultural employment proportion in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 54.07% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 54.53% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 55.00% | - | - |
| 2025 | 55.48% | −0.52% | #168 |
| 2024 | 55.99% | −0.36% | #168 |
| 2023 | 56.36% | −0.46% | #169 |
| 2022 | 56.82% | −0.59% | #171 |
| 2021 | 57.41% | +0.39% | #171 |
| 2020 | 57.02% | +1.45% | #170 |
| 2019 | 55.57% | −0.51% | #168 |
| 2018 | 56.07% | −1.91% | #169 |
| 2017 | 57.98% | +1.78% | #169 |
| 2016 | 56.20% | −1.15% | #168 |
| 2015 | 57.35% | +2.46% | #167 |
| 2014 | 54.89% | −2.86% | #165 |
| 2013 | 57.75% | +1.92% | #168 |
| 2012 | 55.84% | −0.25% | #166 |
| 2011 | 56.09% | −1.32% | #164 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eritrea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eritrea's agriculture employment was 55.48% in 2025. Ranked 168th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Eritrea's agriculture employment peaked at 60.21% in 1992.
The lowest agriculture employment in Eritrea was 53.45% in 2002.
Eritrea ranks 168th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eritrea's agriculture employment is projected to reach 55.00% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Eritrea in 2025 was 55.48%. This ranks 168th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eritrea_agriculture-employment,
title = {Eritrea Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eritrea/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}