Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in China
China: Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) was 393.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer consumption in China, 1961–2024
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in kilograms per hectare of arable land.
Analysis
In 2024, fertilizer consumption in China stood at 393.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in China peaked at 480.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2016 and was at its lowest, 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1961.
That places China 15th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in China, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 9.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +36.3% |
| 1963 | 12.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +26.3% |
| 1964 | 16.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +34.7% |
| 1965 | 25.62 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +55.7% |
| 1966 | 36.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +43.5% |
| 1967 | 26.78 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -27.1% |
| 1968 | 26.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 34.82 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +29.5% |
| 1970 | 44.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +27.5% |
| 1971 | 46.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 53.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.4% |
| 1973 | 65.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +23.4% |
| 1974 | 56.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -13.9% |
| 1975 | 70.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +24.7% |
| 1976 | 66.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.1% |
| 1977 | 94.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +42.5% |
| 1978 | 112.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +19.1% |
| 1979 | 135.84 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.6% |
| 1980 | 159.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +17.4% |
| 1981 | 156.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 161.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 173.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 175.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 143.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -18.2% |
| 1986 | 143.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 188.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +31.3% |
| 1988 | 209.44 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 208.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 220.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 237.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 237.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 206.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -13.0% |
| 1994 | 238.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.6% |
| 1995 | 297.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +24.5% |
| 1996 | 301.52 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 299.4 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 301.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 307.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 289.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 298.18 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 336.8 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +13.0% |
| 2003 | 331.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 355.01 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 377.8 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 377.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 386.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 374.04 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 385 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 425.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 443.47 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 454.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 456.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 476.35 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 465.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 480.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 460.47 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 442.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 427.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 414.59 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 406.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 397.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 392.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 393.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 393.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 4.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 393.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 113.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 3.5× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +55.7% | 16.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 25.62 kilograms per hectare of arable land |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 36.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 74.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 44.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 135.84 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 172.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 143.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 209.44 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 264.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 206.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 307.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 351.23 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 289.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 386.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 453.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 425.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 480.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 400.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 392.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 414.59 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 12 Colombia 416.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 13 Bangladesh 398.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 14 Brazil 397.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 16 Oman 340.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 17 Turkmenistan 337.04 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 18 Indonesia 312.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0314 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0951 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0082 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3742 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in China?
- Fertilizer consumption in China was 393.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest fertilizer consumption recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 480.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2016.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1961.
- How does China rank for fertilizer consumption?
- China ranks 15th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fertilizer consumption measures the quantity of plant nutrients used per unit of arable land. Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Traditional nutrients--animal and plant manures--are not included. For the purpose of data dissemination, FAO has adopted the concept of a calendar year (January to December). Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others are on a split-year basis. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.