Agricultural cooperatives are important for helping agriculture and rural areas grow, especially in developing countries and during economic crises. In 2012, the United Nations highlighted the significance of cooperatives in reducing poverty, improving food security, and creating jobs in rural areas. The article discusses the characteristics of agricultural cooperatives worldwide and in Serbia, showing how they can help develop agriculture and reduce poverty. It also looks at the relationship between family farms and cooperatives, using data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The article emphasizes the need for accurate statistics on cooperatives to show their impact on rural development.