Nigeria Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Nigeria's agriculture employment was 33.53% in 2025, ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's agriculture employment stood at 33.53% in 2025, a decline of +0.57% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 32.39% by 2026. Nigeria ranked 133rd globally.
Nigeria’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell from 53.84 percent in 1991, the highest level recorded in the 35‑year series, to 33.53 percent in 2025, placing the country 133rd globally. This decline reflects structural shifts as urbanisation, service‑sector growth and modest industrialisation have drawn workers away from farms, while productivity gains have reduced the labour needed per unit of output. The 2025 figure is virtually identical to the share observed in peer economies such as Cambodia (33.40 percent) and Comoros (33.56 percent), suggesting that Nigeria is now aligned with the agricultural employment profiles of lower‑income, predominantly agrarian states rather than its historically higher‑agricultural base. The downward trajectory is consistent with broader African trends where mechanisation and market integration are reshaping employment patterns. Continued investment in agricultural technology, value‑chain development and rural infrastructure could stabilise or even modestly reverse the decline, but absent such interventions the share of workers in agriculture is likely to keep drifting lower.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 30.66% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 31.52% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 32.39% | - | - |
| 2025 | 33.53% | −0.57% | #133 |
| 2024 | 34.10% | −0.60% | #133 |
| 2023 | 34.70% | −0.55% | #134 |
| 2022 | 35.25% | −2.02% | #135 |
| 2021 | 37.27% | −1.55% | #140 |
| 2020 | 38.82% | −0.16% | #142 |
| 2019 | 38.99% | −0.42% | #143 |
| 2018 | 39.41% | −0.33% | #144 |
| 2017 | 39.74% | −0.24% | #142 |
| 2016 | 39.98% | −0.09% | #141 |
| 2015 | 40.07% | −0.53% | #138 |
| 2014 | 40.60% | −0.95% | #139 |
| 2013 | 41.55% | −1.33% | #140 |
| 2012 | 42.89% | −1.10% | #142 |
| 2011 | 43.99% | −0.98% | #143 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria 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
Nigeria's agriculture employment was 33.53% in 2025. Ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from the previous year.
Nigeria's agriculture employment peaked at 53.84% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in Nigeria was 33.53% in 2025.
Nigeria ranks 133rd globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's agriculture employment is projected to reach 32.39% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Nigeria in 2025 was 33.53%. This ranks 133rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_agriculture-employment,
title = {Nigeria Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}