Papua New Guinea Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Papua New Guinea's agriculture employment was 36.86% in 2025, ranked 142nd globally. This represents a 1.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Papua New Guinea's agriculture employment stood at 36.86% in 2025, a decline of +0.60% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 36.91% by 2026. Papua New Guinea ranked 142nd globally.
Papua New Guinea's agricultural employment rate has displayed a fluctuating trend over the past 35 years. The rate peaked at 38.66 in 2022, indicating a significant proportion of the workforce is engaged in agricultural activities. Conversely, the trough of 25.80 in 2010 highlights the sector's vulnerability to economic downturns and environmental factors. As of 2025, the rate has settled at 36.86, ranking 142 globally. This is closely comparable to the Republic of Congo's rate of 36.35. The trend suggests a gradual increase in agricultural employment over the years, albeit with some volatility. The sector's performance is likely influenced by the country's economic development and climate change impacts. A significant shift in agricultural policies or investments could potentially alter this trajectory, with potential for increased mechanization and technological advancements contributing to a decline in employment numbers.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 36.36% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 36.64% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 36.91% | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.86% | −0.60% | #142 |
| 2024 | 37.46% | −0.61% | #142 |
| 2023 | 38.08% | −0.58% | #142 |
| 2022 | 38.66% | +1.01% | #143 |
| 2021 | 37.65% | +1.62% | #142 |
| 2020 | 36.03% | +2.59% | #137 |
| 2019 | 33.44% | +0.89% | #132 |
| 2018 | 32.55% | +1.31% | #128 |
| 2017 | 31.24% | +1.08% | #125 |
| 2016 | 30.16% | +0.85% | #120 |
| 2015 | 29.32% | +0.73% | #117 |
| 2014 | 28.59% | +0.15% | #113 |
| 2013 | 28.44% | +0.89% | #112 |
| 2012 | 27.55% | +0.76% | #109 |
| 2011 | 26.79% | +0.99% | #105 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Papua New Guinea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Papua New Guinea's agriculture employment was 36.86% in 2025. Ranked 142nd globally. This represents a 1.6% decrease from the previous year.
Papua New Guinea's agriculture employment peaked at 38.66% in 2022.
The lowest agriculture employment in Papua New Guinea was 25.80% in 2010.
Papua New Guinea ranks 142nd globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Papua New Guinea's agriculture employment is projected to reach 36.91% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Papua New Guinea in 2025 was 36.86%. This ranks 142nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_agriculture-employment,
title = {Papua New Guinea Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}