Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Kenya
Kenya: Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 22.31 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
22.31 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
up 72.9%
World rank
123rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
26.37 kilograms per hectare
in 2020
All-time low
0.8 kilograms per hectare
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 22.31 kilograms per hectare, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 72.9% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Kenya peaked at 26.37 kilograms per hectare in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.8 kilograms per hectare, in 1961.
Kenya ranks 123rd 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.8 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 0.94 kilograms per hectare | +17.5% |
| 1963 | 1.96 kilograms per hectare | +108.5% |
| 1964 | 2.75 kilograms per hectare | +40.3% |
| 1965 | 3.46 kilograms per hectare | +25.8% |
| 1966 | 3.13 kilograms per hectare | -9.5% |
| 1967 | 3.44 kilograms per hectare | +9.9% |
| 1968 | 2.85 kilograms per hectare | -17.2% |
| 1969 | 4.22 kilograms per hectare | +48.1% |
| 1970 | 5.79 kilograms per hectare | +37.2% |
| 1971 | 4.86 kilograms per hectare | -16.1% |
| 1972 | 4.84 kilograms per hectare | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 5.32 kilograms per hectare | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 5.06 kilograms per hectare | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 5.12 kilograms per hectare | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 5.24 kilograms per hectare | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 5.91 kilograms per hectare | +12.8% |
| 1978 | 6.11 kilograms per hectare | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 4.82 kilograms per hectare | -21.1% |
| 1980 | 6.4 kilograms per hectare | +32.8% |
| 1981 | 8.85 kilograms per hectare | +38.3% |
| 1982 | 6.61 kilograms per hectare | -25.3% |
| 1983 | 7.14 kilograms per hectare | +8.0% |
| 1984 | 8.4 kilograms per hectare | +17.6% |
| 1985 | 9.72 kilograms per hectare | +15.7% |
| 1986 | 9.21 kilograms per hectare | -5.2% |
| 1987 | 9.4 kilograms per hectare | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 10.82 kilograms per hectare | +15.1% |
| 1989 | 8.62 kilograms per hectare | -20.3% |
| 1990 | 9.01 kilograms per hectare | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 9.42 kilograms per hectare | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 8.29 kilograms per hectare | -12.0% |
| 1993 | 7.6 kilograms per hectare | -8.3% |
| 1994 | 8.55 kilograms per hectare | +12.5% |
| 1995 | 5.56 kilograms per hectare | -35.0% |
| 1996 | 12.17 kilograms per hectare | +118.9% |
| 1997 | 9.57 kilograms per hectare | -21.4% |
| 1998 | 10.19 kilograms per hectare | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 9.63 kilograms per hectare | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 12.87 kilograms per hectare | +33.6% |
| 2001 | 14.45 kilograms per hectare | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 11.37 kilograms per hectare | -21.3% |
| 2003 | 12.21 kilograms per hectare | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 11.37 kilograms per hectare | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 12.72 kilograms per hectare | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 13.5 kilograms per hectare | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 13.78 kilograms per hectare | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 12.62 kilograms per hectare | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 12.94 kilograms per hectare | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 12.97 kilograms per hectare | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 15.4 kilograms per hectare | +18.7% |
| 2012 | 17.97 kilograms per hectare | +16.7% |
| 2013 | 21.08 kilograms per hectare | +17.3% |
| 2014 | 17.42 kilograms per hectare | -17.4% |
| 2015 | 13.7 kilograms per hectare | -21.4% |
| 2016 | 17.37 kilograms per hectare | +26.8% |
| 2017 | 23.47 kilograms per hectare | +35.1% |
| 2018 | 16.3 kilograms per hectare | -30.5% |
| 2019 | 18.94 kilograms per hectare | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 26.37 kilograms per hectare | +39.2% |
| 2021 | 23.22 kilograms per hectare | -11.9% |
| 2022 | 12.9 kilograms per hectare | -44.4% |
| 2023 | 22.31 kilograms per hectare | +72.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 22.31 kilograms per hectare is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.3 kilograms per hectare, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 22.31 kilograms per hectare is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.68 kilograms per hectare, 3.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.62 kilograms per hectare | 0.8 kilograms per hectare | 4.22 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.31 kilograms per hectare | 4.82 kilograms per hectare | 6.11 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.52 kilograms per hectare | 6.4 kilograms per hectare | 10.82 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 9 kilograms per hectare | 5.56 kilograms per hectare | 12.17 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.78 kilograms per hectare | 11.37 kilograms per hectare | 14.45 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.46 kilograms per hectare | 12.97 kilograms per hectare | 23.47 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.2 kilograms per hectare | 12.9 kilograms per hectare | 26.37 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 120 Brunei 24.3 kilograms per hectare compare
- 121 Zimbabwe 23.75 kilograms per hectare compare
- 122 Morocco 23.4 kilograms per hectare compare
- 124 Papua New Guinea 20.75 kilograms per hectare compare
- 125 Trinidad and Tobago 19.73 kilograms per hectare compare
- 126 Martinique 19.67 kilograms per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Kenya?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Kenya was 22.31 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 26.37 kilograms per hectare in 2020.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8 kilograms per hectare in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- Kenya ranks 123rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
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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.