Fertilizer consumption in OECD members
OECD members: Fertilizer consumption was 87.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Fertilizer consumption in OECD members, 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
OECD members recorded 87.8% for fertilizer consumption in 2023.
That represents a change of up 11.4% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in OECD members peaked at 94.7% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 76.4%, in 1991.
That places OECD members 31st out of 44 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Fertilizer consumption in OECD members, year by year
| Year | % of fertilizer production | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 88.6% | — |
| 1962 | 89.8% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 87.6% | -2.5% |
| 1964 | 85.2% | -2.7% |
| 1965 | 82.9% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 83.5% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 84.0% | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 83.6% | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 83.7% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 85.0% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 85.7% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 85.5% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 86.4% | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 79.7% | -7.8% |
| 1975 | 88.6% | +11.2% |
| 1976 | 88.8% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 86.3% | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 85.5% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 83.5% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 81.2% | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 88.1% | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 87.1% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 83.8% | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 81.2% | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 86.1% | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 82.3% | -4.4% |
| 1987 | 78.7% | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 77.6% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 80.8% | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 78.1% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 76.4% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 76.6% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 80.1% | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 77.4% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 77.6% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 78.1% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 80.2% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 81.2% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 86.8% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 89.2% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 90.2% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 90.3% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 94.7% | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 88.7% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 90.7% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 90.4% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 86.3% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 83.0% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 94.7% | +14.2% |
| 2010 | 86.0% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 88.3% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 91.6% | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 90.7% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 89.6% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 87.2% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 88.3% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 86.0% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 82.5% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 82.9% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 84.5% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 83.7% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 78.8% | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 87.8% | +11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 85.4% | 82.9% | 89.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 85.5% | 79.7% | 88.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 82.7% | 77.6% | 88.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 79.3% | 76.4% | 86.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 89.8% | 83.0% | 94.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.3% | 82.5% | 91.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.7% | 78.8% | 87.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More agriculture & rural data for OECD members
- Rural population, per capita 0.1868 units per person (2025)
- Rural population 262.00 million (2025)
- Rural population growth -0.3% (2025)
- Rural population 18.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.3% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 699.9 current US$ per person (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0143 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 977.64 billion current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in OECD members?
- Fertilizer consumption in OECD members was 87.8% 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 OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 94.7% in 2009.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.4% in 1991.
- How does OECD members rank for fertilizer consumption?
- OECD members ranks 31st out of 44 groups with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this OECD members 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.