Malawi Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Malawi's agriculture employment was 64.98% in 2025, ranked 174th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Malawi's agriculture employment stood at 64.98% in 2025, a decline of +0.26% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 65.02% by 2026. Malawi ranked 174th globally.
Malawi’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell from 73.87 percent in 1992, the all‑time peak, to 63.88 percent in 2019, the lowest point recorded over the 35‑year series, before rising slightly to 64.98 percent in 2025, placing the country 174th globally. The modest rebound follows a long‑term decline that reflects structural shifts toward services and manufacturing, yet agriculture remains the dominant employer, outpacing peers such as Uganda (64.85 percent) and Tanzania (64.57 percent) in the most recent year. The trough in 2019 coincided with a period of drought and falling commodity prices, which constrained rural livelihoods and prompted modest urban migration. Continued investment in agricultural productivity, climate‑resilient practices and value‑chain development could reverse the downward drift and sustain higher employment shares, while adverse weather or policy setbacks would likely keep the trend flat or reverse any gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 64.88% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 64.95% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 65.02% | - | - |
| 2025 | 64.98% | −0.26% | #174 |
| 2024 | 65.24% | −0.06% | #173 |
| 2023 | 65.30% | −0.12% | #175 |
| 2022 | 65.42% | +0.17% | #176 |
| 2021 | 65.25% | +0.33% | #176 |
| 2020 | 64.92% | +1.04% | #176 |
| 2019 | 63.88% | −0.48% | #178 |
| 2018 | 64.36% | −0.45% | #177 |
| 2017 | 64.81% | −0.36% | #177 |
| 2016 | 65.17% | −0.17% | #178 |
| 2015 | 65.34% | −0.25% | #177 |
| 2014 | 65.59% | −0.46% | #176 |
| 2013 | 66.06% | −0.53% | #177 |
| 2012 | 66.58% | −0.05% | #178 |
| 2011 | 66.63% | −0.44% | #178 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's agriculture employment was 64.98% in 2025. Ranked 174th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from the previous year.
Malawi's agriculture employment peaked at 73.87% in 1992.
The lowest agriculture employment in Malawi was 63.88% in 2019.
Malawi ranks 174th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's agriculture employment is projected to reach 65.02% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Malawi in 2025 was 64.98%. This ranks 174th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_agriculture-employment,
title = {Malawi Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}