Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 1.42 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone, 1966–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 1.42 kilograms per hectare for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in 2023.
That represents a change of up 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone peaked at 3.08 kilograms per hectare in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.05 kilograms per hectare, in 1966.
Sierra Leone ranks 185th of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.05 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1967 | 0.27 kilograms per hectare | +440.0% |
| 1968 | 0.44 kilograms per hectare | +63.0% |
| 1969 | 2.48 kilograms per hectare | +463.6% |
| 1970 | 2.5 kilograms per hectare | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 1.39 kilograms per hectare | -44.4% |
| 1972 | 1.13 kilograms per hectare | -18.7% |
| 1973 | 1.26 kilograms per hectare | +11.5% |
| 1974 | 1.03 kilograms per hectare | -18.3% |
| 1975 | 2.72 kilograms per hectare | +164.1% |
| 1976 | 1.07 kilograms per hectare | -60.7% |
| 1977 | 1.33 kilograms per hectare | +24.3% |
| 1978 | 1.1 kilograms per hectare | -17.3% |
| 1979 | 2.35 kilograms per hectare | +113.6% |
| 1980 | 1.48 kilograms per hectare | -37.0% |
| 1981 | 2.39 kilograms per hectare | +61.5% |
| 1982 | 0.36 kilograms per hectare | -84.9% |
| 1983 | 0.73 kilograms per hectare | +102.8% |
| 1984 | 0.89 kilograms per hectare | +21.9% |
| 1985 | 2.62 kilograms per hectare | +194.4% |
| 1986 | 2.93 kilograms per hectare | +11.8% |
| 1987 | 0.32 kilograms per hectare | -89.1% |
| 1988 | 0.37 kilograms per hectare | +15.6% |
| 1989 | 1.41 kilograms per hectare | +281.1% |
| 1990 | 0.97 kilograms per hectare | -31.2% |
| 1991 | 0.32 kilograms per hectare | -67.0% |
| 1992 | 0.98 kilograms per hectare | +206.2% |
| 1993 | 1.64 kilograms per hectare | +67.3% |
| 1994 | 1.64 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.64 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.64 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.64 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.16 kilograms per hectare | -90.2% |
| 1999 | 0.05 kilograms per hectare | -68.8% |
| 2000 | 0.08 kilograms per hectare | +60.0% |
| 2001 | 0.12 kilograms per hectare | +50.0% |
| 2002 | 3.08 kilograms per hectare | +2466.7% |
| 2003 | 0.28 kilograms per hectare | -90.9% |
| 2004 | 0.32 kilograms per hectare | +14.3% |
| 2005 | 0.39 kilograms per hectare | +21.9% |
| 2006 | 0.22 kilograms per hectare | -43.6% |
| 2007 | 0.56 kilograms per hectare | +154.5% |
| 2008 | 0.21 kilograms per hectare | -62.5% |
| 2009 | 0.86 kilograms per hectare | +309.5% |
| 2010 | 0.29 kilograms per hectare | -66.3% |
| 2011 | 0.27 kilograms per hectare | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 0.94 kilograms per hectare | +248.1% |
| 2013 | 1.09 kilograms per hectare | +16.0% |
| 2014 | 0.19 kilograms per hectare | -82.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1 kilograms per hectare | -47.4% |
| 2016 | 0.69 kilograms per hectare | +590.0% |
| 2017 | 1.68 kilograms per hectare | +143.5% |
| 2018 | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.42 kilograms per hectare is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.29 kilograms per hectare, 33% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.42 kilograms per hectare is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.68 kilograms per hectare, 25% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +2466.7% | 0.12 kilograms per hectare | 3.08 kilograms per hectare |
| 2016 | +590.0% | 0.1 kilograms per hectare | 0.69 kilograms per hectare |
| 1969 | +463.6% | 0.44 kilograms per hectare | 2.48 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.81 kilograms per hectare | 0.05 kilograms per hectare | 2.48 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
| 1970s | 1.59 kilograms per hectare | 1.03 kilograms per hectare | 2.72 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.35 kilograms per hectare | 0.32 kilograms per hectare | 2.93 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.07 kilograms per hectare | 0.05 kilograms per hectare | 1.64 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.612 kilograms per hectare | 0.08 kilograms per hectare | 3.08 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.809 kilograms per hectare | 0.1 kilograms per hectare | 1.68 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | 1.42 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Sierra Leone was 1.42 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 3.08 kilograms per hectare in 2002.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.05 kilograms per hectare in 1966.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- Sierra Leone ranks 185th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.