Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 71.02 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
71.02 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
48th
of 201 countries
All-time high
79.64 kilograms per hectare
in 1989
All-time low
0.73 kilograms per hectare
in 1969
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia, 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
In 2023, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia stood at 71.02 kilograms per hectare.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 53.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia peaked at 79.64 kilograms per hectare in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.73 kilograms per hectare, in 1969.
Saudi Arabia ranks 48th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.71 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 1.68 kilograms per hectare | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 1.65 kilograms per hectare | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 2.01 kilograms per hectare | +21.8% |
| 1965 | 2.27 kilograms per hectare | +12.9% |
| 1966 | 3.99 kilograms per hectare | +75.8% |
| 1967 | 0.77 kilograms per hectare | -80.7% |
| 1968 | 0.75 kilograms per hectare | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 0.73 kilograms per hectare | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 0.85 kilograms per hectare | +16.4% |
| 1971 | 1.02 kilograms per hectare | +20.0% |
| 1972 | 0.99 kilograms per hectare | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 2.55 kilograms per hectare | +157.6% |
| 1974 | 3.05 kilograms per hectare | +19.6% |
| 1975 | 3.38 kilograms per hectare | +10.8% |
| 1976 | 3.67 kilograms per hectare | +8.6% |
| 1977 | 2.61 kilograms per hectare | -28.9% |
| 1978 | 3.78 kilograms per hectare | +44.8% |
| 1979 | 8.37 kilograms per hectare | +121.4% |
| 1980 | 12.83 kilograms per hectare | +53.3% |
| 1981 | 20.63 kilograms per hectare | +60.8% |
| 1982 | 28.52 kilograms per hectare | +38.2% |
| 1983 | 49.9 kilograms per hectare | +75.0% |
| 1984 | 57.2 kilograms per hectare | +14.6% |
| 1985 | 64.38 kilograms per hectare | +12.6% |
| 1986 | 65.29 kilograms per hectare | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 79.43 kilograms per hectare | +21.7% |
| 1988 | 76.04 kilograms per hectare | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 79.64 kilograms per hectare | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 78.43 kilograms per hectare | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 77.34 kilograms per hectare | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 77.95 kilograms per hectare | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 66.05 kilograms per hectare | -15.3% |
| 1994 | 51.84 kilograms per hectare | -21.5% |
| 1995 | 40.44 kilograms per hectare | -22.0% |
| 1996 | 45.2 kilograms per hectare | +11.8% |
| 1997 | 47.87 kilograms per hectare | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 53 kilograms per hectare | +10.7% |
| 1999 | 55.16 kilograms per hectare | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 60 kilograms per hectare | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 58.88 kilograms per hectare | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 59.32 kilograms per hectare | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 62.22 kilograms per hectare | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 62.98 kilograms per hectare | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 51.36 kilograms per hectare | -18.5% |
| 2006 | 54.57 kilograms per hectare | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 61.26 kilograms per hectare | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 44.61 kilograms per hectare | -27.2% |
| 2009 | 39.87 kilograms per hectare | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 39.84 kilograms per hectare | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 49.68 kilograms per hectare | +24.7% |
| 2012 | 55.32 kilograms per hectare | +11.4% |
| 2013 | 46.21 kilograms per hectare | -16.5% |
| 2014 | 45.28 kilograms per hectare | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 54.5 kilograms per hectare | +20.4% |
| 2016 | 55.9 kilograms per hectare | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 49.51 kilograms per hectare | -11.4% |
| 2018 | 49.43 kilograms per hectare | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 49.27 kilograms per hectare | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 72.84 kilograms per hectare | +47.8% |
| 2021 | 68.54 kilograms per hectare | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 67.65 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 71.02 kilograms per hectare | +5.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 71.02 kilograms per hectare is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.32 kilograms per hectare, 1.1× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 71.02 kilograms per hectare is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 51.35 kilograms per hectare, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +157.6% | 0.99 kilograms per hectare | 2.55 kilograms per hectare |
| 1979 | +121.4% | 3.78 kilograms per hectare | 8.37 kilograms per hectare |
| 1967 | -80.7% | 3.99 kilograms per hectare | 0.77 kilograms per hectare |
| 1966 | +75.8% | 2.27 kilograms per hectare | 3.99 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.73 kilograms per hectare | 0.73 kilograms per hectare | 3.99 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.03 kilograms per hectare | 0.85 kilograms per hectare | 8.37 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 53.39 kilograms per hectare | 12.83 kilograms per hectare | 79.64 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.33 kilograms per hectare | 40.44 kilograms per hectare | 78.43 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.51 kilograms per hectare | 39.87 kilograms per hectare | 62.98 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.49 kilograms per hectare | 39.84 kilograms per hectare | 55.9 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.01 kilograms per hectare | 67.65 kilograms per hectare | 72.84 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia was 71.02 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 79.64 kilograms per hectare in 1989.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.73 kilograms per hectare in 1969.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 48th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.