Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China
China: Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 192.39 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
192.39 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
5th
of 201 countries
All-time high
235.38 kilograms per hectare
in 2014
All-time low
5.21 kilograms per hectare
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China, 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 China is 192.39 kilograms per hectare, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China peaked at 235.38 kilograms per hectare in 2014 and was at its lowest, 5.21 kilograms per hectare, in 1961.
That places China 5th out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.21 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 7.78 kilograms per hectare | +49.3% |
| 1963 | 9.37 kilograms per hectare | +20.4% |
| 1964 | 12.04 kilograms per hectare | +28.5% |
| 1965 | 17.68 kilograms per hectare | +46.8% |
| 1966 | 25.88 kilograms per hectare | +46.4% |
| 1967 | 19.05 kilograms per hectare | -26.4% |
| 1968 | 20.96 kilograms per hectare | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 25.83 kilograms per hectare | +23.2% |
| 1970 | 33.16 kilograms per hectare | +28.4% |
| 1971 | 33.28 kilograms per hectare | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 38.26 kilograms per hectare | +15.0% |
| 1973 | 44.3 kilograms per hectare | +15.8% |
| 1974 | 38.07 kilograms per hectare | -14.1% |
| 1975 | 50.54 kilograms per hectare | +32.8% |
| 1976 | 47.74 kilograms per hectare | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 71.09 kilograms per hectare | +48.9% |
| 1978 | 93.37 kilograms per hectare | +31.3% |
| 1979 | 107.11 kilograms per hectare | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 121.97 kilograms per hectare | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 115.28 kilograms per hectare | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 116.9 kilograms per hectare | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 123.84 kilograms per hectare | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 128.86 kilograms per hectare | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 110.71 kilograms per hectare | -14.1% |
| 1986 | 107.32 kilograms per hectare | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 132.11 kilograms per hectare | +23.1% |
| 1988 | 144.41 kilograms per hectare | +9.3% |
| 1989 | 145.38 kilograms per hectare | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 148.96 kilograms per hectare | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 150.86 kilograms per hectare | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 155.54 kilograms per hectare | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 138.49 kilograms per hectare | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 147.38 kilograms per hectare | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 182.93 kilograms per hectare | +24.1% |
| 1996 | 194.36 kilograms per hectare | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 176.48 kilograms per hectare | -9.2% |
| 1998 | 176 kilograms per hectare | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 185.65 kilograms per hectare | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 170.25 kilograms per hectare | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 171.65 kilograms per hectare | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 190.82 kilograms per hectare | +11.2% |
| 2003 | 191.15 kilograms per hectare | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 198.11 kilograms per hectare | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 200.26 kilograms per hectare | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 203.92 kilograms per hectare | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 208.51 kilograms per hectare | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 210.63 kilograms per hectare | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 213.92 kilograms per hectare | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 219.35 kilograms per hectare | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 225.06 kilograms per hectare | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 230.1 kilograms per hectare | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 232.68 kilograms per hectare | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 235.38 kilograms per hectare | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 235.31 kilograms per hectare | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 233.54 kilograms per hectare | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 228.38 kilograms per hectare | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 218.81 kilograms per hectare | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 209.11 kilograms per hectare | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 201.47 kilograms per hectare | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 196.74 kilograms per hectare | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 191.55 kilograms per hectare | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 192.39 kilograms per hectare | +0.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 192.39 kilograms per hectare is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.03 kilograms per hectare, 5.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 192.39 kilograms per hectare is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6 kilograms per hectare, 5.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | +49.3% | 5.21 kilograms per hectare | 7.78 kilograms per hectare |
| 1977 | +48.9% | 47.74 kilograms per hectare | 71.09 kilograms per hectare |
| 1965 | +46.8% | 12.04 kilograms per hectare | 17.68 kilograms per hectare |
| 1966 | +46.4% | 17.68 kilograms per hectare | 25.88 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.98 kilograms per hectare | 5.21 kilograms per hectare | 25.88 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 55.69 kilograms per hectare | 33.16 kilograms per hectare | 107.11 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 124.68 kilograms per hectare | 107.32 kilograms per hectare | 145.38 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 165.67 kilograms per hectare | 138.49 kilograms per hectare | 194.36 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 195.92 kilograms per hectare | 170.25 kilograms per hectare | 213.92 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 226.77 kilograms per hectare | 209.11 kilograms per hectare | 235.38 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 195.54 kilograms per hectare | 191.55 kilograms per hectare | 201.47 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 Turkmenistan 312.98 kilograms per hectare compare
- 3 Suriname 252.58 kilograms per hectare compare
- 4 Uzbekistan 215.13 kilograms per hectare compare
- 6 Hong Kong 181.96 kilograms per hectare compare
- 7 Kuwait 173.21 kilograms per hectare compare
- 8 Bangladesh 170.35 kilograms per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in China was 192.39 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 235.38 kilograms per hectare in 2014.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.21 kilograms per hectare in 1961.
- How does China rank for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- China ranks 5th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.