Fertilizer consumption in Belgium
Belgium: Fertilizer consumption was 21.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Fertilizer consumption in Belgium, 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 % of fertilizer production.
Analysis
In 2023, fertilizer consumption in Belgium stood at 21.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.4% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Belgium peaked at 60.8% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 2022.
That places Belgium 89th out of 106 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Fertilizer consumption in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of fertilizer production | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 53.4% | — |
| 1962 | 60.0% | +12.3% |
| 1963 | 60.8% | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 45.6% | -25.0% |
| 1965 | 49.5% | +8.5% |
| 1966 | 53.0% | +7.2% |
| 1967 | 51.3% | -3.2% |
| 1968 | 37.3% | -27.3% |
| 1969 | 42.4% | +13.5% |
| 1970 | 38.2% | -9.8% |
| 1971 | 37.5% | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 37.5% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 38.9% | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 37.3% | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 36.5% | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 37.4% | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 36.8% | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 35.0% | -4.9% |
| 1979 | 32.4% | -7.5% |
| 1980 | 33.6% | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 32.8% | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 35.6% | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 37.5% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 38.1% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 38.7% | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 41.6% | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 38.5% | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 38.7% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 36.8% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 33.9% | -7.9% |
| 1991 | 29.2% | -14.0% |
| 1992 | 33.2% | +13.9% |
| 1993 | 34.1% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 45.8% | +34.4% |
| 1995 | 36.8% | -19.6% |
| 1996 | 40.9% | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 32.1% | -21.4% |
| 1998 | 29.5% | -8.3% |
| 1999 | 27.6% | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 28.1% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 30.2% | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 28.6% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 26.5% | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 24.8% | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 24.3% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | -24.3% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | +30.1% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 24.6% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 25.5% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 23.6% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 23.3% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 21.7% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 19.3% | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 22.0% | +13.9% |
| 2019 | 18.4% | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 24.2% | +31.2% |
| 2021 | 20.2% | -16.5% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | -11.3% |
| 2023 | 21.0% | +17.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.4% | 37.3% | 60.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 36.7% | 32.4% | 38.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.2% | 32.8% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.3% | 27.6% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.6% | 18.4% | 30.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 18.4% | 25.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.8% | 17.9% | 24.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More agriculture & rural data for Belgium
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -0.3325 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0073 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 443.58 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2138 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1233 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.2% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Belgium?
- Fertilizer consumption in Belgium was 21.0% 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 60.8% in 1963.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 2022.
- How does Belgium rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Belgium ranks 89th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium 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 (% of fertilizer production). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Fertilizer consumption measures the quantity of plant nutrients and is calculated as production plus imports minus exports. Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Traditional nutrients--animal and plant manures--are not included. Because some chemical compounds used for fertilizers have other industrial applications, the consumption data may overstate the quantity available for crops. Fertilizer consumption as a share of production shows the agriculture sector's vulnerability to import and energy price fluctuation. Most fertilizers that are commonly used in agriculture contain the three basic plant nutrients-nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Some fertilizers also contain certain micronutrients such as zinc and other metals that are necessary for plant growth. Materials that are applied to the land primarily to enhance soil characteristics (rather than as plant food) are commonly referred to as soil amendments.