Zimbabwe Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Zimbabwe's agriculture employment was 54.31% in 2025, ranked 165th globally. This represents a 1.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Zimbabwe's agriculture employment stood at 54.31% in 2025, a decline of +0.86% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 55.34% by 2026. Zimbabwe ranked 165th globally.
Zimbabwe’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture stood at 54.31 percent in 2025, placing the country 165th globally and closely aligning with peers such as Zambia (54.53) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (54.08). The indicator has risen steadily from a low of 46.66 percent in 1998, the all‑time trough, to a high of 66.15 percent in 2008, before moderating to its current level after 35 years of observation. The post‑peak decline reflects structural shifts toward services and mining, yet agriculture remains a dominant employer relative to many sub‑Saharan economies. Seasonal droughts, land‑reform policies and limited access to credit have constrained further diversification, while recent investments in irrigation and input subsidies aim to boost productivity. If these reforms expand market access and improve rural infrastructure, the share of agricultural employment could stabilize or modestly recede as workers transition to higher‑value sectors.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 55.99% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 55.67% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 55.34% | - | - |
| 2025 | 54.31% | −0.86% | #165 |
| 2024 | 55.17% | −0.28% | #166 |
| 2023 | 55.45% | +2.13% | #167 |
| 2022 | 53.32% | −0.30% | #165 |
| 2021 | 53.62% | −4.98% | #165 |
| 2020 | 58.61% | −3.79% | #171 |
| 2019 | 62.40% | −0.04% | #176 |
| 2018 | 62.43% | −0.59% | #174 |
| 2017 | 63.03% | −0.69% | #174 |
| 2016 | 63.72% | −0.02% | #174 |
| 2015 | 63.74% | −0.25% | #175 |
| 2014 | 63.99% | +0.80% | #174 |
| 2013 | 63.19% | +1.23% | #173 |
| 2012 | 61.96% | −0.05% | #171 |
| 2011 | 62.02% | −0.18% | #169 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's agriculture employment was 54.31% in 2025. Ranked 165th globally. This represents a 1.6% decrease from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's agriculture employment peaked at 66.15% in 2008.
The lowest agriculture employment in Zimbabwe was 46.66% in 1998.
Zimbabwe ranks 165th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zimbabwe's agriculture employment is projected to reach 55.34% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Zimbabwe in 2025 was 54.31%. This ranks 165th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_agriculture-employment,
title = {Zimbabwe Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}