India Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
India's agriculture employment was 41.63% in 2025, ranked 146th globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
India's agriculture employment stood at 41.63% in 2025, a decline of +0.73% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 41.26% by 2026. India ranked 146th globally.
India's agriculture employment has experienced a downward trend over the past three and a half decades, with a notable peak of 63.13 in 1991 and a trough of 40.65 in 2019. At present, the country ranks 146 globally with 41.63 agriculture employment, closely followed by Liberia at 41.12 and Cameroon at 41.85. This decline can be attributed to the shift in workforce towards more lucrative sectors such as services and manufacturing, as well as urbanization. The agriculture sector has traditionally been a significant contributor to India's economy, employing a substantial portion of the workforce, but its share has been decreasing over the years. The pace of decline has been steady, with a minor recovery in 2019 not lasting long. India is likely to continue on this trajectory, with the agricultural sector's share in employment expected to further diminish unless significant policy interventions or structural changes occur to revitalize the sector.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 40.18% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 40.72% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 41.26% | - | - |
| 2025 | 41.63% | −0.73% | #146 |
| 2024 | 42.35% | −1.16% | #146 |
| 2023 | 43.51% | +0.65% | #148 |
| 2022 | 42.86% | −1.22% | #147 |
| 2021 | 44.08% | −0.60% | #153 |
| 2020 | 44.68% | +4.02% | #153 |
| 2019 | 40.65% | −0.64% | #146 |
| 2018 | 41.29% | −0.97% | #149 |
| 2017 | 42.27% | −0.94% | #149 |
| 2016 | 43.20% | −1.07% | #149 |
| 2015 | 44.28% | −0.98% | #151 |
| 2014 | 45.25% | −0.99% | #149 |
| 2013 | 46.24% | −0.85% | #149 |
| 2012 | 47.09% | −1.99% | #149 |
| 2011 | 49.08% | −1.98% | #152 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
India matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2010. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
India's agriculture employment was 41.63% in 2025. Ranked 146th globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from the previous year.
India's agriculture employment peaked at 63.13% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in India was 40.65% in 2019.
India ranks 146th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
India's agriculture employment is projected to reach 41.26% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of India in 2025 was 41.63%. This ranks 146th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_india_agriculture-employment,
title = {India Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/india/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}