In China, more than one in five workers is still employed in agriculture. China makes and exports more goods than any other country. So, perhaps unsurprisingly, when we think about China’s economy, the first thing that comes to mind is often manufacturing — increasingly at the technological frontier in electric vehicles, batteries, and solar panels. China’s position in manufacturing follows decades of economic transformation. The chart shows one aspect of this: the decline in agricultural employment. At the turn of the 21st century, around half of all Chinese workers were employed in agriculture. One generation later, that share had more than halved, reaching 22% in 2025. It's striking how far the share of workers in agriculture has fallen, and just as striking how high it remains. Agriculture employs more than a fifth of China’s workers, while accounting for less than 7% of its GDP. (written by @EOrtizOspina)