What is the difference in agricultural population between Ethiopia and Nigeria?

27.01 million FAO, number, with Ethiopia ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and Nigeria?

33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Ethiopia vs Nigeria: Agricultural population

Ethiopia

65.98 million FAO, number

in 2012

Nigeria

38.98 million FAO, number

in 2012

Ethiopia rank

1st

Nigeria rank

3rd

Agricultural population over time

Ethiopia
Nigeria

How they compare

Ethiopia currently reports 65.98 million FAO, number against 38.98 million FAO, number in Nigeria, a difference of 27.01 million FAO, number.

That makes Ethiopia's figure about 1.7 times Nigeria's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 33 shared years of data; in 1980 it was Nigeria ahead.

Ethiopia ranks 1st and Nigeria ranks 3rd of 53 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Ethiopia averaged higher in 3 and Nigeria in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Ethiopia	Nigeria	Difference	Ahead
1980s	37.97 million FAO, number	41.38 million FAO, number	3.42 million FAO, number	Nigeria
1990s	48.13 million FAO, number	41.74 million FAO, number	6.39 million FAO, number	Ethiopia
2000s	58.74 million FAO, number	40.41 million FAO, number	18.32 million FAO, number	Ethiopia
2010s	65.07 million FAO, number	39.19 million FAO, number	25.88 million FAO, number	Ethiopia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher agricultural population, Ethiopia or Nigeria?: Ethiopia, at 65.98 million FAO, number against 38.98 million FAO, number in Nigeria as of 2012.
What is the difference in agricultural population between Ethiopia and Nigeria?: 27.01 million FAO, number, with Ethiopia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and Nigeria?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do Ethiopia and Nigeria rank globally for agricultural population?: Ethiopia ranks 1st and Nigeria ranks 3rd of 53 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ethiopia vs Nigeria: Agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/agricultural-population-fao-number/ethiopia/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator: Agricultural population (FAO, number)
Unit: FAO, number
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 1,934 data points, 1980–2012
Last refreshed: 21 August 2026

The Agricultural Population is defined as all persons depending for their livelihood on agriculture, hunting, fishing or forestry. This estimate comprises all persons actively engaged in agriculture and their non-working dependants. The Agricultural Population series are estimated by FAO based on the total population series obtained from UN Population Division ("World population prospects: The 2008 Revision") and the ratios of labour force in total population and agricultural labour force in total labour force from ILO: ("Economically active population, 1950-2010: The 4th Revision", ILO, Geneva, 1996). Direct information on agricultural population derived from national population censuses or surveys is scarce.