Fertilizer consumption in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Fertilizer consumption was 561.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Fertilizer consumption in Latin America & Caribbean, 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
Latin America & Caribbean recorded 561.3% for fertilizer consumption in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 26.9% on the previous year and up 90.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 561.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 142.5%, in 1991.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 6th out of 46 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Fertilizer consumption in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | % of fertilizer production | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 143.2% | — |
| 1962 | 148.3% | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 162.3% | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 163.3% | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 175.6% | +7.6% |
| 1966 | 195.8% | +11.5% |
| 1967 | 190.5% | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 218.7% | +14.8% |
| 1969 | 206.4% | -5.6% |
| 1970 | 209.5% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 188.2% | -10.1% |
| 1972 | 203.7% | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 198.6% | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 193.0% | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 195.5% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 199.5% | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 206.3% | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 213.6% | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 208.9% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 197.5% | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 175.3% | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 166.6% | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 148.8% | -10.7% |
| 1984 | 152.7% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 148.3% | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 162.6% | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 162.5% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 157.2% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 144.9% | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 154.0% | +6.3% |
| 1991 | 142.5% | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 156.0% | +9.5% |
| 1993 | 167.3% | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 169.2% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 148.2% | -12.4% |
| 1996 | 166.1% | +12.1% |
| 1997 | 183.5% | +10.5% |
| 1998 | 189.6% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 188.9% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 208.6% | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 223.2% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 233.9% | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 261.2% | +11.7% |
| 2004 | 268.6% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 233.5% | -13.1% |
| 2006 | 247.8% | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 283.8% | +14.5% |
| 2008 | 250.8% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 206.9% | -17.5% |
| 2010 | 227.2% | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 261.5% | +15.1% |
| 2012 | 252.8% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 294.1% | +16.4% |
| 2014 | 313.9% | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 270.3% | -13.9% |
| 2016 | 306.4% | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 353.8% | +15.4% |
| 2018 | 371.4% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 432.5% | +16.5% |
| 2020 | 458.8% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 478.5% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 442.5% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 561.3% | +26.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 178.2% | 143.2% | 218.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 201.7% | 188.2% | 213.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 161.6% | 144.9% | 197.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 166.5% | 142.5% | 189.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 241.8% | 206.9% | 283.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 308.4% | 227.2% | 432.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 485.3% | 442.5% | 561.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More agriculture & rural data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Rural population, per capita 0.1849 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 6.8% (2025)
- Rural population 123.28 million (2025)
- Rural population growth -0.6% (2025)
- Rural population 18.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.3% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 754.45 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.068 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Fertilizer consumption in Latin America & Caribbean was 561.3% 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 561.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 142.5% in 1991.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 6th out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.