Fertilizer consumption in China
China: Fertilizer consumption was 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
11th
of 199 countries
All-time high
480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 2016
All-time low
7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer consumption in China, 1961–2023
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 2023, fertilizer consumption in China stood at 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in China peaked at 480.06 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 11th out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer consumption 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 | 301.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 299.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 300.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 306.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 287.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 295.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 333.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.9% |
| 2003 | 328.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 352.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 375.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 374.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 385.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 372.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 383.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 425.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 444.65 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 457.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 458.52 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 477.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 465.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 460.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 442.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 427.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 414.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 406.23 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 395.14 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.3% |
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 | 264.68 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 206.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 306.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 348.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 287.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 385.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 453.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 425.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 402.47 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 414.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 8 Egypt 532.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 9 Hong Kong 484 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 10 Viet Nam 419.95 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 12 Bangladesh 391.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 13 Colombia 372.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 14 Turkmenistan 347.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- 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)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in China?
- Fertilizer consumption in China was 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023, 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 480.06 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 11th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. 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.