Fertilizer consumption in World
World: Fertilizer consumption was 90.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Fertilizer consumption in World, 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 World stood at 90.7%.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in World peaked at 100.3% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 87.8%, in 2015.
World ranks 29th of 44 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Fertilizer consumption in World, year by year
| Year | % of fertilizer production | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 90.9% | — |
| 1962 | 94.3% | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 93.1% | -1.3% |
| 1964 | 91.2% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 89.4% | -2.0% |
| 1966 | 91.5% | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 92.3% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 93.9% | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 93.9% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 95.9% | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 95.7% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 95.9% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 97.4% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 90.1% | -7.5% |
| 1975 | 99.3% | +10.2% |
| 1976 | 98.3% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 97.9% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 97.5% | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 95.9% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 95.4% | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 100.3% | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 99.8% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 97.0% | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 95.9% | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 97.7% | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 94.9% | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 93.2% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 94.1% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 96.1% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 97.1% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 97.4% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 89.4% | -8.1% |
| 1993 | 89.0% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 88.6% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 88.7% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 89.4% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 92.4% | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 92.4% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 93.6% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 92.8% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 92.7% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 94.4% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 94.9% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 93.3% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 92.8% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 94.8% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 92.9% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 92.1% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 99.2% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 91.7% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 94.0% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 93.5% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 93.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 92.2% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 87.8% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 90.6% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 90.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 90.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 88.7% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 92.0% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 90.0% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 88.1% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 90.7% | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 92.3% | 89.4% | 94.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 96.4% | 90.1% | 99.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.5% | 93.2% | 100.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 91.8% | 88.6% | 97.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.0% | 92.1% | 99.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.3% | 87.8% | 94.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 90.2% | 88.1% | 92.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
More agriculture & rural data for World
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0401 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 577.68 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2984 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4217 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.2% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
- Rural population 42.2% (2025)
- Rural population growth 0.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in World?
- Fertilizer consumption in World was 90.7% 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 100.3% in 1981.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.8% in 2015.
- How does World rank for fertilizer consumption?
- World ranks 29th out of 44 groups with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this World 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.