Germany Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Germany's agriculture employment was 1.07% in 2025, ranked 11th globally. This represents a 2.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Germany's agriculture employment stood at 1.07% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.03% by 2026. Germany ranked 11th globally.
Germany’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture has fallen sharply over the 35‑year span from 1991 to 2025, descending from an all‑time peak of 3.64 % in 1991 to a trough of 1.07 % in 2025, the latter positioning the country at eleventh globally. This decline reflects structural shifts toward higher‑value manufacturing and services, intensified mechanisation, and the consolidation of farm holdings, which have reduced the need for labour. By contrast, neighbouring Belgium records a lower agricultural employment share of 0.98 %, while Canada stands slightly higher at 1.10 %, underscoring Germany’s intermediate position among advanced economies. The persistent downward trajectory aligns with broader European trends of rural depopulation and the adoption of precision agriculture technologies. Future movements in the indicator will likely depend on policy incentives for sustainable farming, the pace of agri‑tech diffusion, and demographic changes that could either curb or reinforce the current decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 0.94% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 0.99% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.03% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.07% | −0.02% | #11 |
| 2024 | 1.09% | −0.12% | #11 |
| 2023 | 1.21% | −0.06% | #12 |
| 2022 | 1.27% | +0.06% | #12 |
| 2021 | 1.21% | +0.10% | #11 |
| 2020 | 1.11% | −0.07% | #10 |
| 2019 | 1.19% | −0.08% | #11 |
| 2018 | 1.27% | −0.01% | #13 |
| 2017 | 1.28% | −0.03% | #11 |
| 2016 | 1.31% | −0.09% | #10 |
| 2015 | 1.40% | −0.04% | #11 |
| 2014 | 1.44% | −0.02% | #12 |
| 2013 | 1.46% | −0.11% | #11 |
| 2012 | 1.57% | −0.15% | #13 |
| 2011 | 1.72% | +0.10% | #14 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Germany matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Germany's agriculture employment was 1.07% in 2025. Ranked 11th globally. This represents a 2.0% decrease from the previous year.
Germany's agriculture employment peaked at 3.64% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in Germany was 1.07% in 2025.
Germany ranks 11th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Germany's agriculture employment is projected to reach 1.03% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Germany in 2025 was 1.07%. This ranks 11th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_germany_agriculture-employment,
title = {Germany Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/germany/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}