Fertilizer consumption in Malawi
Malawi: Fertilizer consumption was 349,440 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer consumption in Malawi, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 349,440 tonnes for fertilizer consumption in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 268.3% on the previous year and up 236.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Malawi peaked at 349,440 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,884 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Malawi 44th out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer consumption in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,461 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 3,884 tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1963 | 4,137 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 4,836 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1965 | 5,007 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 4,986 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 6,019 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1968 | 7,020 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1969 | 7,074 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 10,978 tonnes | +55.2% |
| 1971 | 15,067 tonnes | +37.2% |
| 1972 | 13,353 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 1973 | 16,386 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1974 | 10,642 tonnes | -35.1% |
| 1975 | 15,028 tonnes | +41.2% |
| 1976 | 26,915 tonnes | +79.1% |
| 1977 | 23,489 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1978 | 28,877 tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1979 | 25,240 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1980 | 33,273 tonnes | +31.8% |
| 1981 | 34,151 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 32,281 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 43,008 tonnes | +33.2% |
| 1984 | 44,784 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 29,271 tonnes | -34.6% |
| 1986 | 37,486 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 1987 | 48,396 tonnes | +29.1% |
| 1988 | 51,233 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1989 | 54,800 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 48,012 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1991 | 70,010 tonnes | +45.8% |
| 1992 | 73,799 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 73,994 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 21,274 tonnes | -71.2% |
| 1995 | 43,546 tonnes | +104.7% |
| 1996 | 58,190 tonnes | +33.6% |
| 1997 | 56,786 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 50,205 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1999 | 50,119 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 49,766 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 27,476 tonnes | -44.8% |
| 2002 | 84,692 tonnes | +208.2% |
| 2003 | 93,243 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 103,227 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 97,569 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 121,496 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 2007 | 125,171 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 120,277 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 107,960 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2010 | 130,896 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 2011 | 106,287 tonnes | -18.8% |
| 2012 | 92,402 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 103,719 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 143,184 tonnes | +38.0% |
| 2015 | 153,584 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 88,255 tonnes | -42.5% |
| 2017 | 128,094 tonnes | +45.1% |
| 2018 | 131,190 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 114,102 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 186,815 tonnes | +63.7% |
| 2021 | 167,412 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2022 | 94,878 tonnes | -43.3% |
| 2023 | 349,440 tonnes | +268.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 349,440 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 34,130 tonnes, 10.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 349,440 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24,201 tonnes, 14.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer consumption in Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +268.3% | 94,878 tonnes | 349,440 tonnes |
| 2002 | +208.2% | 27,476 tonnes | 84,692 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5,269 tonnes | 3,884 tonnes | 7,074 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 18,598 tonnes | 10,642 tonnes | 28,877 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,868 tonnes | 29,271 tonnes | 54,800 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 54,593 tonnes | 21,274 tonnes | 73,994 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 93,088 tonnes | 27,476 tonnes | 125,171 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 119,171 tonnes | 88,255 tonnes | 153,584 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 199,636 tonnes | 94,878 tonnes | 349,440 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Malawi?
- Fertilizer consumption in Malawi was 349,440 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 349,440 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,884 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Malawi rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Malawi ranks 44th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 236.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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).