Fertilizer consumption in India
India: Fertilizer consumption was 139.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Fertilizer consumption in India, 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
India recorded 139.4% for fertilizer consumption in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in India peaked at 252.4% in 1967 and was at its lowest, 113.4%, in 2002.
India ranks 55th of 106 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Fertilizer consumption in India, year by year
| Year | % of fertilizer production | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 154.0% | — |
| 1962 | 160.1% | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 166.4% | +3.9% |
| 1964 | 206.6% | +24.2% |
| 1965 | 220.0% | +6.5% |
| 1966 | 242.1% | +10.0% |
| 1967 | 252.4% | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 226.8% | -10.1% |
| 1969 | 207.7% | -8.4% |
| 1970 | 212.8% | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 214.3% | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 199.9% | -6.7% |
| 1973 | 206.5% | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 169.5% | -17.9% |
| 1975 | 191.2% | +12.8% |
| 1976 | 145.6% | -23.8% |
| 1977 | 160.3% | +10.1% |
| 1978 | 173.1% | +7.9% |
| 1979 | 175.5% | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 183.1% | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 148.0% | -19.1% |
| 1982 | 132.4% | -10.6% |
| 1983 | 145.0% | +9.6% |
| 1984 | 152.2% | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 150.1% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 135.6% | -9.7% |
| 1987 | 116.3% | -14.2% |
| 1988 | 119.2% | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 132.1% | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 132.5% | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 128.8% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 124.4% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 135.3% | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 129.3% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 122.3% | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 128.2% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 123.0% | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 122.9% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 126.1% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 113.7% | -9.8% |
| 2001 | 118.6% | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 113.4% | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 120.0% | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 121.5% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 132.9% | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 152.6% | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 172.2% | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 189.0% | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 181.2% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 171.5% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 171.2% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 159.5% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 149.5% | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 154.5% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 149.4% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 144.7% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 146.5% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 152.7% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 156.5% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 176.0% | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 160.6% | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 143.8% | -10.4% |
| 2023 | 139.4% | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 204.0% | 154.0% | 252.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 184.9% | 145.6% | 214.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 141.4% | 116.3% | 183.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 127.3% | 122.3% | 135.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 141.5% | 113.4% | 189.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 155.6% | 144.7% | 171.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 155.0% | 139.4% | 176.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in India?
- Fertilizer consumption in India was 139.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 252.4% in 1967.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 113.4% in 2002.
- How does India rank for fertilizer consumption?
- India ranks 55th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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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.