Fertilizer consumption in Kenya
Kenya: Fertilizer consumption was 334,671 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
334,671 tonnes
Change on year
up 51.8%
World rank
46th
of 201 countries
All-time high
381,717 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
11,106 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer consumption in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 334,671 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 51.8% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Kenya peaked at 381,717 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11,106 tonnes, in 1961.
Kenya ranks 46th 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 consumption in Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 11,106 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 12,102 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1963 | 16,022 tonnes | +32.4% |
| 1964 | 19,247 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1965 | 24,027 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1966 | 30,674 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1967 | 33,271 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1968 | 32,776 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 42,292 tonnes | +29.0% |
| 1970 | 49,531 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1971 | 47,200 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1972 | 53,182 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1973 | 50,963 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 52,798 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 44,472 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1976 | 53,903 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1977 | 51,531 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 51,022 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 38,290 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1980 | 61,619 tonnes | +60.9% |
| 1981 | 82,824 tonnes | +34.4% |
| 1982 | 62,701 tonnes | -24.3% |
| 1983 | 75,087 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1984 | 81,787 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1985 | 102,595 tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1986 | 98,388 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 110,399 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1988 | 121,093 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1989 | 106,086 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1990 | 106,657 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 112,697 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 101,881 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1993 | 100,033 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 129,839 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1995 | 78,421 tonnes | -39.6% |
| 1996 | 160,821 tonnes | +105.1% |
| 1997 | 134,398 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1998 | 127,119 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 148,116 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 2000 | 145,708 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 150,052 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 139,109 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2003 | 170,286 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 2004 | 145,544 tonnes | -14.5% |
| 2005 | 180,753 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 2006 | 176,015 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 192,884 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 176,382 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 187,244 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 180,412 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 229,664 tonnes | +27.3% |
| 2012 | 278,915 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 2013 | 328,164 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 2014 | 276,807 tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2015 | 225,550 tonnes | -18.5% |
| 2016 | 280,618 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 2017 | 365,920 tonnes | +30.4% |
| 2018 | 279,127 tonnes | -23.7% |
| 2019 | 332,237 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 2020 | 381,717 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 351,832 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 220,477 tonnes | -37.3% |
| 2023 | 334,671 tonnes | +51.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 334,671 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 86,615 tonnes, 3.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 334,671 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24,201 tonnes, 13.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24,613 tonnes | 11,106 tonnes | 42,292 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 49,289 tonnes | 38,290 tonnes | 53,903 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 90,258 tonnes | 61,619 tonnes | 121,093 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 119,998 tonnes | 78,421 tonnes | 160,821 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 166,398 tonnes | 139,109 tonnes | 192,884 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 277,741 tonnes | 180,412 tonnes | 365,920 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 322,174 tonnes | 220,477 tonnes | 381,717 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
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 consumption in Kenya?
- Fertilizer consumption in Kenya was 334,671 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 381,717 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,106 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Kenya ranks 46th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. 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 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).