Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in South Africa
South Africa: Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) was 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land
Change on year
up 20.0%
World rank
81st
of 199 countries
All-time high
120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 2024
All-time low
17.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Fertilizer consumption in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 20.0% on the previous year and up 80.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in South Africa peaked at 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024 and was at its lowest, 17.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 81st of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 64 years of available data.
Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 17.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 21.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.5% |
| 1963 | 24.38 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +13.0% |
| 1964 | 28.3 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +16.1% |
| 1965 | 29.84 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 35.05 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +17.4% |
| 1967 | 38.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.3% |
| 1968 | 41.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.2% |
| 1969 | 41.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 45.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.5% |
| 1971 | 50.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.6% |
| 1972 | 56.78 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.7% |
| 1973 | 56.73 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 58.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 62.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.8% |
| 1976 | 66.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 70.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 74.36 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 78.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 86.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.2% |
| 1981 | 99.88 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.8% |
| 1982 | 91.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 71.07 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -22.5% |
| 1984 | 77.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 70.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -9.0% |
| 1986 | 66.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.9% |
| 1987 | 56.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -14.2% |
| 1988 | 65.62 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.6% |
| 1989 | 61.72 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.9% |
| 1990 | 61.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 57.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 55.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 62.82 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 55.92 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -11.0% |
| 1995 | 56.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 58.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 55.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 57.14 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 56.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 53.6 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 55.72 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 61.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 55.15 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 60.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 47.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -21.5% |
| 2006 | 62.34 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +31.7% |
| 2007 | 61.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 56.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 55.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 53.78 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 60.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 61.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 67.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 66.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 62.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 57.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 72.83 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +27.2% |
| 2018 | 90.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +23.7% |
| 2019 | 91.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 102.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +11.6% |
| 2021 | 115.18 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.4% |
| 2022 | 101.36 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -12.0% |
| 2023 | 100.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 120.27 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, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 8.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 17.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 41.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 61.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 45.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 78.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 56.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 99.88 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 57.8 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 55.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 62.82 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 47.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 62.34 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 53.78 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 91.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 107.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 100.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 78 Bermuda 126.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 79 Saudi Arabia 125.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 80 Bahamas 123 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 82 Bulgaria 119.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 83 Palestine 118.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 84 Hungary 117.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % 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 0.1917 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.49 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in South Africa?
- Fertilizer consumption in South Africa was 120.27 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 120.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for fertilizer consumption?
- South Africa ranks 81st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.