Myanmar Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Myanmar's agriculture employment was 44.95% in 2025, ranked 154th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Myanmar's agriculture employment stood at 44.95% in 2025, a decline of +0.40% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 44.47% by 2026. Myanmar ranked 154th globally.
Myanmar’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture has fallen sharply over the past 35 years, dropping from an all‑time peak of 70.25 percent in 1991 to a trough of 44.95 percent in 2025, placing the country 154th globally. This decline reflects structural shifts such as urban migration, modest industrial growth, and recurring disruptions from political instability and climate‑related shocks that have constrained farm productivity. The 2025 figure is virtually identical to that of Vanuatu (44.53 percent) and only slightly below Kenya’s 45.79 percent, signalling that Myanmar now aligns with other lower‑middle‑income economies where agriculture no longer dominates employment. Despite the contraction, agriculture remains a critical livelihood source for a large share of the population, and future trajectories will hinge on the effectiveness of land‑reform policies, investment in modern farming technologies, and the country’s ability to stabilise its political environment, which could either accelerate diversification away from farming or spur a modest rebound in agricultural employment.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 43.73% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 44.10% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 44.47% | - | - |
| 2025 | 44.95% | −0.40% | #154 |
| 2024 | 45.36% | +0.11% | #154 |
| 2023 | 45.25% | −0.57% | #152 |
| 2022 | 45.82% | −0.77% | #154 |
| 2021 | 46.59% | +0.12% | #155 |
| 2020 | 46.47% | −3.29% | #156 |
| 2019 | 49.76% | +0.82% | #163 |
| 2018 | 48.94% | −2.40% | #161 |
| 2017 | 51.34% | −0.21% | #162 |
| 2016 | 51.54% | −0.15% | #159 |
| 2015 | 51.69% | −0.48% | #159 |
| 2014 | 52.17% | +0.01% | #160 |
| 2013 | 52.16% | −0.12% | #159 |
| 2012 | 52.28% | +0.05% | #158 |
| 2011 | 52.23% | +0.28% | #157 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Myanmar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2009. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Myanmar's agriculture employment was 44.95% in 2025. Ranked 154th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Myanmar's agriculture employment peaked at 70.25% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in Myanmar was 44.95% in 2025.
Myanmar ranks 154th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Myanmar's agriculture employment is projected to reach 44.47% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Myanmar in 2025 was 44.95%. This ranks 154th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_myanmar_agriculture-employment,
title = {Myanmar Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/myanmar/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}