Fertilizer consumption in South Korea
South Korea: Fertilizer consumption was 381,931 tonnes in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
381,931 tonnes
Change on year
down 11.1%
World rank
39th
of 201 countries
All-time high
991,976 tonnes
in 1997
All-time low
315,020 tonnes
in 1962
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer consumption in South Korea, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, fertilizer consumption in South Korea stood at 381,931 tonnes.
The figure is down 11.1% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in South Korea peaked at 991,976 tonnes in 1997 and was at its lowest, 315,020 tonnes, in 1962.
South Korea ranks 39th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Fertilizer consumption in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 316,115 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 315,020 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 345,842 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1964 | 360,690 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1965 | 336,482 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1966 | 423,265 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 1967 | 486,491 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1968 | 478,433 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1969 | 534,604 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1970 | 562,895 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 598,181 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 647,691 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1973 | 757,099 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1974 | 848,381 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 865,491 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 643,246 tonnes | -25.7% |
| 1977 | 736,118 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1978 | 870,913 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1979 | 851,152 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 803,033 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1981 | 768,754 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 614,106 tonnes | -20.1% |
| 1983 | 717,580 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1984 | 778,094 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1985 | 836,803 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 863,401 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 904,389 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 921,093 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 978,037 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 957,718 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 927,714 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 963,709 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 973,700 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 960,003 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 979,042 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 908,918 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1997 | 991,976 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 867,006 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1999 | 821,090 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 783,350 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 716,592 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 699,687 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 708,458 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 749,125 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 785,597 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 540,306 tonnes | -31.2% |
| 2007 | 648,773 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 2008 | 476,513 tonnes | -26.6% |
| 2009 | 520,093 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 497,744 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 501,929 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 535,556 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 515,593 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 510,597 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 494,717 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 498,970 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 493,633 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 504,719 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 499,960 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 412,111 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2021 | 378,040 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 429,582 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2023 | 381,931 tonnes | -11.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 381,931 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 101,624 tonnes, 3.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 381,931 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33,674 tonnes, 11.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 399,660 tonnes | 315,020 tonnes | 534,604 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 738,117 tonnes | 562,895 tonnes | 870,913 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 818,529 tonnes | 614,106 tonnes | 978,037 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 935,088 tonnes | 821,090 tonnes | 991,976 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 662,849 tonnes | 476,513 tonnes | 785,597 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 505,342 tonnes | 493,633 tonnes | 535,556 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 400,416 tonnes | 378,040 tonnes | 429,582 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More agriculture & rural data for South Korea
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in South Korea?
- Fertilizer consumption in South Korea was 381,931 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 991,976 tonnes in 1997.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 315,020 tonnes in 1962.
- How does South Korea rank for fertilizer consumption?
- South Korea ranks 39th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea 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).