Contribution of agriculture sector to GDP in North Africa 2023, by country

As of 2023, Algeria was the North African country with the highest contribution share of the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector to the gross domestic product (GDP), with this industry constituting around 13.2 percent of the economy. Overall, the agriculture sector plays a vital role within the North African countries, contributing at least10 percent to each national GDP of the region. The only exceptions are Sudan and Libya, where agricultural activities made up 5.6 percent and 1.6 percent of the GDP, respectively. For Sudan, the contribution of agriculture to the GDP dropped significantly compared to previous years due to several factors such as changes to the climate, and the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed forces and the Paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023.

Agriculture and Economics

Across Africa, agriculture is a core pillar of the economy, representing 17 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP in 2022, led by Sierra Leone and Niger. In addition to its economic presence, the sector also plays an important role in contributing to the job market. In fact, the number of people employed in agriculture in the continent reached 229 million in 2021. While Central and Western Africa boasted large shares of the agricultural workforce, North Africa recorded the lowest share of employment in the industry, due to the region’s heavy reliance on industrial and service sectors. 

Harvest and Land  

The primary crops grown in Africa are roots and tubers, along with cereals. In fact, Egypt and Morocco led the North African region in 2021, with the highest amounts of cereals produced. Within the continent, Sudan and South Africa possess the largest agricultural land areas, with around 113 million and 96.3 million hectares, respectively. However, Burundi dedicated the largest share of land to growing crops at 82 percent, with Rwanda following close behind at 81 percent.