Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana
Botswana: Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 66.97 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana is 66.97 kilograms per hectare, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 10.3% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana peaked at 77.95 kilograms per hectare in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.34 kilograms per hectare, in 1985.
Botswana ranks 53rd of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.5 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 2.5 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2.5 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 3.75 kilograms per hectare | +50.0% |
| 1965 | 4.99 kilograms per hectare | +33.1% |
| 1966 | 4.99 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 6.23 kilograms per hectare | +24.8% |
| 1968 | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | -60.0% |
| 1969 | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.74 kilograms per hectare | +10.0% |
| 1971 | 2.62 kilograms per hectare | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 2.86 kilograms per hectare | +9.2% |
| 1973 | 2.99 kilograms per hectare | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 2.89 kilograms per hectare | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 3.73 kilograms per hectare | +29.1% |
| 1976 | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | -33.2% |
| 1977 | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1.24 kilograms per hectare | -50.2% |
| 1980 | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | +20.2% |
| 1981 | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.48 kilograms per hectare | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 1.23 kilograms per hectare | -16.9% |
| 1984 | 0.99 kilograms per hectare | -19.5% |
| 1985 | 0.34 kilograms per hectare | -65.7% |
| 1986 | 0.53 kilograms per hectare | +55.9% |
| 1987 | 0.73 kilograms per hectare | +37.7% |
| 1988 | 0.73 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.72 kilograms per hectare | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 0.71 kilograms per hectare | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 1 kilograms per hectare | +40.8% |
| 1992 | 1.2 kilograms per hectare | +20.0% |
| 1993 | 1.14 kilograms per hectare | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 1.26 kilograms per hectare | +10.5% |
| 1995 | 6.16 kilograms per hectare | +388.9% |
| 1996 | 9.22 kilograms per hectare | +49.7% |
| 1997 | 11.63 kilograms per hectare | +26.1% |
| 1998 | 16.23 kilograms per hectare | +39.6% |
| 1999 | 17.01 kilograms per hectare | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 11.68 kilograms per hectare | -31.3% |
| 2001 | 20.4 kilograms per hectare | +74.7% |
| 2009 | 42.86 kilograms per hectare | +110.1% |
| 2010 | 76.39 kilograms per hectare | +78.2% |
| 2011 | 25.95 kilograms per hectare | -66.0% |
| 2012 | 52.79 kilograms per hectare | +103.4% |
| 2013 | 77.95 kilograms per hectare | +47.7% |
| 2014 | 52.37 kilograms per hectare | -32.8% |
| 2015 | 50.17 kilograms per hectare | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 40.9 kilograms per hectare | -18.5% |
| 2017 | 21.37 kilograms per hectare | -47.8% |
| 2018 | 48.34 kilograms per hectare | +126.2% |
| 2019 | 38.16 kilograms per hectare | -21.1% |
| 2020 | 52.07 kilograms per hectare | +36.5% |
| 2021 | 49.94 kilograms per hectare | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 60.69 kilograms per hectare | +21.5% |
| 2023 | 66.97 kilograms per hectare | +10.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 66.97 kilograms per hectare is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.03 kilograms per hectare, 1.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 66.97 kilograms per hectare is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.68 kilograms per hectare, 11.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +388.9% | 1.26 kilograms per hectare | 6.16 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.6 kilograms per hectare | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | 6.23 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.65 kilograms per hectare | 1.24 kilograms per hectare | 3.73 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.973 kilograms per hectare | 0.34 kilograms per hectare | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.56 kilograms per hectare | 0.71 kilograms per hectare | 17.01 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.98 kilograms per hectare | 11.68 kilograms per hectare | 42.86 kilograms per hectare | 3 |
| 2010s | 48.44 kilograms per hectare | 21.37 kilograms per hectare | 77.95 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.42 kilograms per hectare | 49.94 kilograms per hectare | 66.97 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0178 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 138.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0839 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3204 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana was 66.97 kilograms per hectare in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 77.95 kilograms per hectare in 2013.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.34 kilograms per hectare in 1985.
- How does Botswana rank for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- Botswana ranks 53rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Use of fertilizers per area of cropland, which corresponds to the sum of arable land and permanent crops.