Saudi Arabia Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Saudi Arabia's agriculture employment was 2.50% in 2025, ranked 34th globally. This represents a 2.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Saudi Arabia's agriculture employment stood at 2.50% in 2025, a decline of +0.07% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.48% by 2026. Saudi Arabia ranked 34th globally.
Saudi Arabia's agriculture employment has undergone significant decline over the past three and a half decades, with the most recent data from 2025 showing an all-time low of 2.50% of the workforce engaged in agricultural activities, ranking #34 globally. This stark contrast is evident when compared to the country's peak year of 1991, when agriculture employment reached 7.78%, a substantial 6.28 percentage points higher than its current rate. Notably, Saudi Arabia's trend mirrors that of other developed nations, such as Norway, where agriculture employment has also remained stable at 2.50% since 2025. This shift is largely attributed to the country's rapid economic diversification and growing reliance on non-agricultural sectors, including oil and gas, finance, and services. As Saudi Arabia continues to implement its Vision 2030 agenda, with a focus on industrialization and privatization, agriculture employment is expected to remain at relatively low levels unless significant policy interventions or major shifts in the country's economic landscape occur.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 2.35% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 2.41% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.48% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.50% | −0.07% | #34 |
| 2024 | 2.57% | −0.17% | #35 |
| 2023 | 2.74% | −0.14% | #35 |
| 2022 | 2.88% | +0.22% | #37 |
| 2021 | 2.67% | −0.51% | #33 |
| 2020 | 3.17% | +0.07% | #37 |
| 2019 | 3.10% | +0.04% | #36 |
| 2018 | 3.05% | −0.85% | #35 |
| 2017 | 3.91% | −0.11% | #44 |
| 2016 | 4.02% | −0.12% | #44 |
| 2015 | 4.14% | −0.17% | #43 |
| 2014 | 4.31% | −0.16% | #42 |
| 2013 | 4.47% | −0.14% | #44 |
| 2012 | 4.61% | −0.16% | #43 |
| 2011 | 4.77% | −0.17% | #44 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Saudi Arabia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia's agriculture employment was 2.50% in 2025. Ranked 34th globally. This represents a 2.9% decrease from the previous year.
Saudi Arabia's agriculture employment peaked at 7.78% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in Saudi Arabia was 2.50% in 2025.
Saudi Arabia ranks 34th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Saudi Arabia's agriculture employment is projected to reach 2.48% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Saudi Arabia in 2025 was 2.50%. This ranks 34th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_saudi-arabia_agriculture-employment,
title = {Saudi Arabia Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/saudi-arabia/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}