Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in Malawi
Malawi: Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) was 36.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer consumption in Malawi, 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
The most recent figure for fertilizer consumption in Malawi is 36.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 19.5% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Malawi peaked at 47.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1962.
That places Malawi 132nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.44 kilograms per hectare of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 2.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -19.4% |
| 1963 | 2.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 3.23 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +13.0% |
| 1965 | 2.94 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -9.0% |
| 1966 | 2.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 3.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +23.5% |
| 1968 | 3.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.2% |
| 1969 | 3.83 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 6.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +59.5% |
| 1971 | 7.72 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +26.4% |
| 1972 | 6.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -13.6% |
| 1973 | 8 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +19.9% |
| 1974 | 5.19 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -35.2% |
| 1975 | 7.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +44.8% |
| 1976 | 13.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +79.1% |
| 1977 | 11.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -12.7% |
| 1978 | 14.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +19.9% |
| 1979 | 12.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -12.6% |
| 1980 | 17.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +42.2% |
| 1981 | 17.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 15.38 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -9.9% |
| 1983 | 21.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +39.8% |
| 1984 | 21.84 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 14.28 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -34.6% |
| 1986 | 17.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +22.1% |
| 1987 | 22.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +29.1% |
| 1988 | 23.83 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 24.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 21.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -14.4% |
| 1991 | 29.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +39.6% |
| 1992 | 32.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 32.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 10.13 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -68.5% |
| 1995 | 18.92 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +86.7% |
| 1996 | 24.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +28.2% |
| 1997 | 23.18 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 19.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -16.7% |
| 1999 | 18.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 18.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 9.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -46.7% |
| 2002 | 29.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +208.1% |
| 2003 | 31.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 34.41 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 30.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -11.4% |
| 2006 | 36.82 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.8% |
| 2007 | 37.93 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 34.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 30.85 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -11.5% |
| 2010 | 37.4 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +21.2% |
| 2011 | 30.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -18.8% |
| 2012 | 26.4 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 29.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.8% |
| 2014 | 39.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +35.9% |
| 2015 | 42 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 23.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -43.4% |
| 2017 | 33.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +43.0% |
| 2018 | 34.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 29.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -14.3% |
| 2020 | 47.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +61.4% |
| 2021 | 41.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -11.8% |
| 2022 | 23.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -43.4% |
| 2023 | 45.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +91.6% |
| 2024 | 36.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -19.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 36.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 5.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 36.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +208.1% | 9.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 29.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 2.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 3.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.28 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 5.19 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 14.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 14.28 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 24.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10.13 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 32.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 37.93 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 23.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 42 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.01 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 23.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 47.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 129 Moldova 42.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 130 Ukraine 41.74 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 131 Armenia 41.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 133 Libya 34.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 134 Barbados 32.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 135 Solomon Islands 32.19 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0003 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1965 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.7718 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0004 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2798 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Malawi?
- Fertilizer consumption in Malawi was 36.56 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 47.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2020.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1962.
- How does Malawi rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Malawi ranks 132nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.