Fertilizer consumption in South Asia
South Asia: Fertilizer consumption was 151.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Fertilizer consumption in South Asia, 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
The most recent figure for fertilizer consumption in South Asia is 151.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in South Asia peaked at 247.9% in 1967 and was at its lowest, 115.3%, in 2000.
That places South Asia 15th out of 46 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Fertilizer consumption in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of fertilizer production | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 158.6% | — |
| 1962 | 152.3% | -4.0% |
| 1963 | 159.1% | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 199.9% | +25.7% |
| 1965 | 210.4% | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 236.3% | +12.4% |
| 1967 | 247.9% | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 229.0% | -7.6% |
| 1969 | 211.7% | -7.6% |
| 1970 | 210.4% | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 219.8% | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 199.7% | -9.1% |
| 1973 | 200.8% | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 172.8% | -14.0% |
| 1975 | 187.2% | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 146.7% | -21.6% |
| 1977 | 165.3% | +12.7% |
| 1978 | 175.4% | +6.1% |
| 1979 | 181.6% | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 189.5% | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 151.6% | -20.0% |
| 1982 | 135.0% | -10.9% |
| 1983 | 146.6% | +8.5% |
| 1984 | 154.1% | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 151.3% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 138.1% | -8.7% |
| 1987 | 118.2% | -14.4% |
| 1988 | 120.3% | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 133.5% | +10.9% |
| 1990 | 134.1% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 130.1% | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 124.1% | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 132.6% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 129.4% | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 123.3% | -4.8% |
| 1996 | 129.2% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 124.3% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 123.5% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 127.5% | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 115.3% | -9.6% |
| 2001 | 120.4% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 116.7% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 122.3% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 124.3% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 136.4% | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 155.7% | +14.1% |
| 2007 | 173.2% | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 192.7% | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 185.7% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 177.7% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 180.3% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 168.8% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 158.5% | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 165.7% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 160.1% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 154.1% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 156.6% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 164.5% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 168.2% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 188.5% | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 175.1% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 156.7% | -10.5% |
| 2023 | 151.6% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 200.6% | 152.3% | 247.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 186.0% | 146.7% | 219.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 143.8% | 118.2% | 189.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 127.8% | 123.3% | 134.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 144.3% | 115.3% | 192.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 165.4% | 154.1% | 180.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 168.0% | 151.6% | 188.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More agriculture & rural data for South Asia
- Rural population, per capita 0.6421 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 15.6% (2025)
- Rural population 1.09 billion (2025)
- Rural population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Rural population 64.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.0% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 421.99 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in South Asia?
- Fertilizer consumption in South Asia was 151.6% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 247.9% in 1967.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 115.3% in 2000.
- How does South Asia rank for fertilizer consumption?
- South Asia ranks 15th out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 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.