What is the difference in agricultural population between South Africa and Zimbabwe?

2.53 million FAO, number, with Zimbabwe ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zimbabwe?

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.

South Africa vs Zimbabwe: Agricultural population

South Africa

4.62 million FAO, number

in 2012

Zimbabwe

7.16 million FAO, number

in 2012

South Africa rank

29th

Zimbabwe rank

27th

Agricultural population over time

South Africa
Zimbabwe

How they compare

Zimbabwe currently reports 7.16 million FAO, number against 4.62 million FAO, number in South Africa, a difference of 2.53 million FAO, number.

That makes Zimbabwe's figure about 1.5 times South Africa's.

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

South Africa ranks 29th and Zimbabwe ranks 27th of 53 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and Zimbabwe in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	Zimbabwe	Difference	Ahead
1980s	7.20 million FAO, number	6.17 million FAO, number	1.02 million FAO, number	South Africa
1990s	6.78 million FAO, number	7.62 million FAO, number	838,000 FAO, number	Zimbabwe
2000s	5.63 million FAO, number	7.52 million FAO, number	1.89 million FAO, number	Zimbabwe
2010s	4.76 million FAO, number	7.11 million FAO, number	2.35 million FAO, number	Zimbabwe

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher agricultural population, South Africa or Zimbabwe?: Zimbabwe, at 7.16 million FAO, number against 4.62 million FAO, number in South Africa as of 2012.
What is the difference in agricultural population between South Africa and Zimbabwe?: 2.53 million FAO, number, with Zimbabwe ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zimbabwe?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do South Africa and Zimbabwe rank globally for agricultural population?: South Africa ranks 29th and Zimbabwe ranks 27th 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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South Africa vs Zimbabwe: Agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/agricultural-population-fao-number/south-africa/zimbabwe/

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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.