What is the difference in agricultural population between Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?

447.30 million FAO, number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?

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.

Nigeria vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Agricultural population

Nigeria

38.98 million FAO, number

in 2012

Sub-Saharan Africa

486.28 million FAO, number

in 2012

Nigeria rank

3rd

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

2nd

Agricultural population over time

Nigeria
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 486.28 million FAO, number against 38.98 million FAO, number in Nigeria, a difference of 447.30 million FAO, number.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 12.5 times Nigeria's.

Across all 33 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

Nigeria ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Nigeria	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	41.38 million FAO, number	300.79 million FAO, number	259.40 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s	41.74 million FAO, number	367.00 million FAO, number	325.27 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	40.41 million FAO, number	433.53 million FAO, number	393.11 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	39.19 million FAO, number	479.00 million FAO, number	439.80 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher agricultural population, Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 486.28 million FAO, number against 38.98 million FAO, number in Nigeria as of 2012.
What is the difference in agricultural population between Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 447.30 million FAO, number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for agricultural population?: Nigeria ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd 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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Nigeria vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/agricultural-population-fao-number/nigeria/sub-saharan-africa/

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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.