Guyana Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Guyana's agriculture employment was 12.21% in 2025, ranked 85th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Guyana's agriculture employment stood at 12.21% in 2025, a decline of +0.35% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 11.26% by 2026. Guyana ranked 85th globally.
Guyana’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell dramatically over the 35‑year span from 1991 to 2025, sliding from an all‑time peak of 38.82 % in 1991 to a trough of 12.21 % in 2025, a decline of nearly two‑thirds and placing the country at rank 85 globally. This contraction reflects structural shifts toward services and extractive industries, particularly oil, as well as modest gains in mechanisation that have reduced the need for farm labour. The 2025 figure is comparable to that of Tunisia (12.46 %) and slightly above Costa Rica’s 11.49 %, indicating that Guyana now aligns with a group of middle‑income economies where agriculture is a marginal employer. The persistent downward trajectory suggests that unless policies are introduced to revitalise agro‑processing, improve smallholder productivity, or diversify rural livelihoods, the proportion of workers in agriculture will likely continue to shrink in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 9.82% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 10.54% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 11.26% | - | - |
| 2025 | 12.21% | −0.35% | #85 |
| 2024 | 12.56% | −0.61% | #85 |
| 2023 | 13.17% | −0.81% | #86 |
| 2022 | 13.98% | −1.10% | #88 |
| 2021 | 15.08% | −0.55% | #91 |
| 2020 | 15.63% | +0.33% | #90 |
| 2019 | 15.30% | −0.62% | #92 |
| 2018 | 15.91% | −0.43% | #93 |
| 2017 | 16.35% | −0.40% | #95 |
| 2016 | 16.75% | −0.52% | #95 |
| 2015 | 17.27% | −0.05% | #93 |
| 2014 | 17.32% | −0.21% | #91 |
| 2013 | 17.53% | −0.54% | #91 |
| 2012 | 18.07% | −0.75% | #92 |
| 2011 | 18.83% | −1.05% | #95 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guyana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guyana's agriculture employment was 12.21% in 2025. Ranked 85th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from the previous year.
Guyana's agriculture employment peaked at 38.82% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in Guyana was 12.21% in 2025.
Guyana ranks 85th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guyana's agriculture employment is projected to reach 11.26% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Guyana in 2025 was 12.21%. This ranks 85th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guyana_agriculture-employment,
title = {Guyana Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guyana/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}