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I know in the US the percentage was similar all the way up to the early 1800s. It was 40% of the population in 1900.

I don’t think the rest of the world was much different.

Sub Saharan Africa is still mostly in this situation and much less productive in farming than most other parts of the world. They are slowly improving but they lack the capital to invest in more productive methods. If they could improve their efficiency it would probably lift a lot of people out of poverty.

Thinking of Rome again!

Anyway, I wonder how much of that was due to limits of technology/knowledge (they just didn't know how to grow more) vs. limits in social organization (they didn't grow more because it wasn't worth it for them).

Is the productivity mostly attributed to improved farming practices, better strains, or mechanization?