Fertilizer consumption in China
China: Fertilizer consumption was 42.72 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
42.72 million tonnes
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
1st
of 201 countries
All-time high
55.21 million tonnes
in 2014
All-time low
727,320 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer consumption in China, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertilizer consumption in China is 42.72 million tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in China peaked at 55.21 million tonnes in 2014 and was at its lowest, 727,320 tonnes, in 1961.
China ranks 1st of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer consumption in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 727,320 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 989,991 tonnes | +36.1% |
| 1963 | 1.25 million tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1964 | 1.68 million tonnes | +34.5% |
| 1965 | 2.60 million tonnes | +55.2% |
| 1966 | 3.72 million tonnes | +42.8% |
| 1967 | 2.70 million tonnes | -27.5% |
| 1968 | 2.70 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 3.47 million tonnes | +28.9% |
| 1970 | 4.41 million tonnes | +26.9% |
| 1971 | 4.57 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 5.25 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1973 | 6.44 million tonnes | +22.8% |
| 1974 | 5.58 million tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1975 | 6.85 million tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1976 | 6.42 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1977 | 9.13 million tonnes | +42.3% |
| 1978 | 10.86 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1979 | 13.08 million tonnes | +20.4% |
| 1980 | 15.34 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1981 | 15.15 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 16.40 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 18.63 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1984 | 20.06 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 17.28 million tonnes | -13.9% |
| 1986 | 17.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 22.69 million tonnes | +31.0% |
| 1988 | 25.32 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1989 | 25.43 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 27.27 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 29.66 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1992 | 29.20 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 25.08 million tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1994 | 28.84 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1995 | 35.58 million tonnes | +23.4% |
| 1996 | 35.98 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 35.65 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 35.83 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 36.44 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 34.22 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 35.35 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 40.03 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2003 | 39.51 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 42.42 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 45.26 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 45.35 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 46.60 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 45.16 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 46.61 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 51.08 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2011 | 52.77 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 53.66 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 53.36 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 55.21 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 53.48 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 54.46 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 51.40 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 48.90 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 46.60 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 45.10 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 44.27 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 42.90 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 42.72 million tonnes | -0.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 42.72 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54,231 tonnes, 787.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 42.72 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33,674 tonnes, 1268.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.20 million tonnes | 727,320 tonnes | 3.72 million tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 7.26 million tonnes | 4.41 million tonnes | 13.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.36 million tonnes | 15.15 million tonnes | 25.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.95 million tonnes | 25.08 million tonnes | 36.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.05 million tonnes | 34.22 million tonnes | 46.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.09 million tonnes | 46.60 million tonnes | 55.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.75 million tonnes | 42.72 million tonnes | 45.10 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
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 consumption in China?
- Fertilizer consumption in China was 42.72 million tonnes 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 consumption recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 55.21 million tonnes in 2014.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 727,320 tonnes in 1961.
- How does China rank for fertilizer consumption?
- China ranks 1st out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. 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 consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Agricultural use from all fertilizer products (including nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers).