When we talk about jobs in Africa, agriculture doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it should. Across the continent, millions of people wake up every day to work on farms, tend livestock, and harvest crops.
Being a farmer is a big deal for many people in these African countries. It is the main source of livelihood for a huge demographic of the population.
So which African countries have the largest agricultural workforce? Based on an FAO report, here are the top 10: 
1. Ethiopia
Ethiopia has the highest number of farm workers. Around 36.2 million Ethiopians are employed in agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy, employing roughly 70% of the population and contributing about 33-36% of the GDP. Wheat is the most cultivated crop in the country.
2. Nigeria
Nigeria doesn’t just lead Africa in population. Its agricultural sector is also massive. According to the FAO report, about 26.8 million people are working on farms, in fields, and across rural communities.
Even though the country is heavily diversified into oil services, agriculture remains essential for millions of households, especially in the Northern areas.
3. Tanzania
Roughly 19.2 million people make their living through agriculture in Tanzania. Farming for Tanzanians isn’t only about feeding families; it includes cash crops like coffee, tea, and cashews that are sold for profits and support livelihoods right across the country’s landscapes.
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The DRC has around 18.6 million agricultural workers. With a large vast area of fertile lands, farming plays a huge role in everyday life.
5. Uganda
Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy. Around 11.7 million Ugandans work in the agricultural sector. Coffee and bananas are their major exports.
6. Madagascar
Despite its unique island geography, Madagascar has about 10.5 million agricultural workers. Rice is the primary crop, supplemented by cassava, corn, and sweet potato. Cash crops like vanilla, cloves, and coffee are major exports.
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7. Mozambique
According to the FAO report, Mozambique has 9.9 million people employed in agriculture. Farming is a way of life for many Mozambicans. Crops like maize and cassava are the main produce for families across the country.
8. Kenya
Kenya’s agricultural workforce sits at about 7.6 million people, contributing directly to 33% of the GDP and employing over 70% of the rural population. Although Kenya has a strong tech sector, agriculture continues to support many rural households, especially with tea and coffee.
9. Egypt
With about 5.7 million agricultural workers, Egypt may seem lower on the list, but given its large population and booming cities, that’s still significant. Here, irrigation and Nile-based farming have supported life for millennia.
10. Ghana
Last on the list is Ghana. With about 5.5 million people in agriculture. Cocoa, grains, and roots are major crops, and farming remains a key source of jobs and community identity across rural Ghana.
Africa Is Feeding the World Too
While some African countries have the largest agricultural workforce, others are making global headlines for export power.
Take Senegal, for example; two major farms in the country supply fresh vegetables directly to markets in the United Kingdom. According to a report by the BBC, major British supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi and Lidl stock a range of fresh vegetables from Senegal between January and March. Vegetables like spring onions, radishes, green beans, chillies, butternut squash and even sweet corn are all labelled “Produce of Senegal”.
This shows that Africa isn’t only going to agriculture for survival. It is also cultivating for global markets too.
Why Does This Matter?
According to the FAO 2024 data, nearly two-thirds of Africa’s workforce is linked to agrifood systems, which include farming, food processing, distribution, and related activities. Even as the world advances with urbanisation and industrial jobs growing, millions of Africans still depend on land and farming.
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