Kenya Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Kenya's agriculture employment was 45.79% in 2025, ranked 156th globally. This represents a 1.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Kenya's agriculture employment stood at 45.79% in 2025, a decline of +0.71% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 44.04% by 2026. Kenya ranked 156th globally.
Kenya’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell from a high of 61.49 percent in 1993 to 45.79 percent in 2025, placing it at rank 156 globally and representing the lowest point in a 35‑year series. The decline reflects structural shifts toward services and industry, as well as modest gains in agricultural productivity that have reduced labour demand. Compared with peers of similar rank, Kenya’s 2025 figure is slightly above Côte d’Ivoire’s 45.37 percent and just below Timor‑Leste’s 46.02 percent, indicating a regional convergence toward lower agricultural employment shares. The long‑term downward trajectory suggests that further diversification of the economy and continued investment in mechanisation could accelerate the reduction in agricultural labour, while policies promoting value‑added agribusiness might temper the pace of decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 41.59% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 42.81% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 44.04% | - | - |
| 2025 | 45.79% | −0.71% | #156 |
| 2024 | 46.50% | −0.65% | #157 |
| 2023 | 47.16% | −0.67% | #157 |
| 2022 | 47.83% | −3.41% | #158 |
| 2021 | 51.24% | +0.02% | #163 |
| 2020 | 51.21% | +1.48% | #164 |
| 2019 | 49.73% | −0.66% | #162 |
| 2018 | 50.40% | −0.90% | #163 |
| 2017 | 51.29% | −0.58% | #161 |
| 2016 | 51.87% | −0.64% | #160 |
| 2015 | 52.51% | −0.63% | #161 |
| 2014 | 53.14% | −0.76% | #163 |
| 2013 | 53.89% | −0.58% | #162 |
| 2012 | 54.48% | −0.66% | #162 |
| 2011 | 55.13% | −0.51% | #162 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kenya matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenya's agriculture employment was 45.79% in 2025. Ranked 156th globally. This represents a 1.5% decrease from the previous year.
Kenya's agriculture employment peaked at 61.49% in 1993.
The lowest agriculture employment in Kenya was 45.79% in 2025.
Kenya ranks 156th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kenya's agriculture employment is projected to reach 44.04% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Kenya in 2025 was 45.79%. This ranks 156th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kenya_agriculture-employment,
title = {Kenya Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kenya/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}