Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Fertilizer application rates over the long-run was 243.36 kilograms per hectare in 2014. ▲ Rising
Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom, 1913–2014
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and Federico (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 243.36 kilograms per hectare for fertilizer application rates over the long-run in 2014.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom peaked at 319.05 kilograms per hectare in 2002 and was at its lowest, 21.1 kilograms per hectare, in 1922.
That places United Kingdom 32nd out of 161 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 28.2 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1922 | 21.1 kilograms per hectare | -25.2% |
| 1937 | 60.1 kilograms per hectare | +184.8% |
| 1957 | 82.9 kilograms per hectare | +37.9% |
| 1999 | 299.4 kilograms per hectare | +261.2% |
| 2002 | 319.05 kilograms per hectare | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 314.19 kilograms per hectare | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 287.33 kilograms per hectare | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 272.82 kilograms per hectare | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 254.18 kilograms per hectare | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 254.07 kilograms per hectare | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 208.16 kilograms per hectare | -18.1% |
| 2009 | 239.87 kilograms per hectare | +15.2% |
| 2010 | 251.93 kilograms per hectare | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 238.7 kilograms per hectare | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 235.03 kilograms per hectare | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 246.59 kilograms per hectare | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 243.36 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 243.36 kilograms per hectare is above the median for high income countries, which is 190.38 kilograms per hectare, 1.3× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 243.36 kilograms per hectare is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 130.94 kilograms per hectare, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +261.2% | 82.9 kilograms per hectare | 299.4 kilograms per hectare |
| 1937 | +184.8% | 21.1 kilograms per hectare | 60.1 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 28.2 kilograms per hectare | 28.2 kilograms per hectare | 28.2 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1920s | 21.1 kilograms per hectare | 21.1 kilograms per hectare | 21.1 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1930s | 60.1 kilograms per hectare | 60.1 kilograms per hectare | 60.1 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1950s | 82.9 kilograms per hectare | 82.9 kilograms per hectare | 82.9 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1990s | 299.4 kilograms per hectare | 299.4 kilograms per hectare | 299.4 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 2000s | 268.71 kilograms per hectare | 208.16 kilograms per hectare | 319.05 kilograms per hectare | 8 |
| 2010s | 243.12 kilograms per hectare | 235.03 kilograms per hectare | 251.93 kilograms per hectare | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1668 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom?
- Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United Kingdom was 243.36 kilograms per hectare in 2014, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and Federico (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertilizer application rates over the long-run recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 319.05 kilograms per hectare in 2002.
- What is the lowest fertilizer application rates over the long-run recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.1 kilograms per hectare in 1922.
- How does United Kingdom rank for fertilizer application rates over the long-run?
- United Kingdom ranks 32nd out of 161 countries with data for 2014.
- Is fertilizer application rates over the long-run rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and Federico (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertilizer application rates over the long-run. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average fertilizer application rates for select countries over the long-run, measured in kilograms of nutrient per hectare of arable land.