Agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Agricultural population was 486.28 million FAO, number in 2012. ▲ Rising
Agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, number.
Analysis
In 2012, agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 486.28 million FAO, number. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 486.28 million FAO, number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 272.34 million FAO, number, in 1980.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | FAO, number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 272.34 million FAO, number | — |
| 1981 | 278.25 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 284.34 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 290.60 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 296.99 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 303.55 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 310.21 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 316.98 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 323.85 million FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 330.79 million FAO, number | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 337.75 million FAO, number | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 344.26 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 350.70 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 357.18 million FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 363.67 million FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 370.19 million FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 376.74 million FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 383.26 million FAO, number | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 389.85 million FAO, number | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 396.44 million FAO, number | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 403.05 million FAO, number | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 409.69 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 416.35 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 423.10 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 429.93 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 436.80 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 443.73 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 450.53 million FAO, number | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 457.52 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 464.59 million FAO, number | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 471.74 million FAO, number | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 478.98 million FAO, number | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 486.28 million FAO, number | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 300.79 million FAO, number | 272.34 million FAO, number | 330.79 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 1990s | 367.00 million FAO, number | 337.75 million FAO, number | 396.44 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2000s | 433.53 million FAO, number | 403.05 million FAO, number | 464.59 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2010s | 479.00 million FAO, number | 471.74 million FAO, number | 486.28 million FAO, number | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Ethiopia 65.98 million FAO, number compare
- 2 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 39.12 million FAO, number compare
- 3 Nigeria 38.98 million FAO, number compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 34.40 million FAO, number compare
- 5 Kenya 29.74 million FAO, number compare
More environment data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.223 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.21 °C (2025)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2.29 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 8.80 million metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 13.02 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Aquaculture production 904,662 metric tons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Agricultural population in Sub-Saharan Africa was 486.28 million FAO, number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest agricultural population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 486.28 million FAO, number in 2012.
- What is the lowest agricultural population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 272.34 million FAO, number in 1980.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for agricultural population?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2012.
- Is agricultural population rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.