Fertilizer consumption in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Fertilizer consumption was 419,940 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer consumption in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 419,940 tonnes for fertilizer consumption in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 46.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Saudi Arabia peaked at 538,600 tonnes in 1992 and was at its lowest, 2,008 tonnes, in 1967.
That places Saudi Arabia 38th 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,001 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 3,998 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 4,890 tonnes | +22.3% |
| 1965 | 5,326 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1966 | 8,243 tonnes | +54.8% |
| 1967 | 2,008 tonnes | -75.6% |
| 1968 | 3,109 tonnes | +54.8% |
| 1969 | 4,001 tonnes | +28.7% |
| 1970 | 4,700 tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1971 | 2,494 tonnes | -46.9% |
| 1972 | 2,503 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 8,447 tonnes | +237.5% |
| 1974 | 8,003 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 9,296 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1976 | 7,105 tonnes | -23.6% |
| 1977 | 8,010 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1978 | 14,421 tonnes | +80.0% |
| 1979 | 21,915 tonnes | +52.0% |
| 1980 | 40,967 tonnes | +86.9% |
| 1981 | 67,415 tonnes | +64.6% |
| 1982 | 94,259 tonnes | +39.8% |
| 1983 | 215,151 tonnes | +128.3% |
| 1984 | 261,417 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1985 | 343,508 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 1986 | 411,468 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1987 | 451,679 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1988 | 453,005 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 487,019 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 489,011 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 508,021 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 538,600 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 454,995 tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1994 | 359,999 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 1995 | 283,983 tonnes | -21.1% |
| 1996 | 316,988 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1997 | 320,993 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 330,034 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 346,993 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 386,228 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 2001 | 383,754 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 365,508 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 382,241 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 398,965 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 335,706 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 366,006 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 389,536 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 258,962 tonnes | -33.5% |
| 2009 | 230,029 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 241,981 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 283,504 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 2012 | 309,010 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 286,174 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 274,814 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 320,397 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 2016 | 315,689 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 299,065 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 300,602 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 300,597 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 429,914 tonnes | +43.0% |
| 2021 | 402,589 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 409,319 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 419,940 tonnes | +2.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 419,940 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 101,624 tonnes, 4.1× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 419,940 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 47,149 tonnes, 8.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer consumption in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +237.5% | 2,503 tonnes | 8,447 tonnes |
| 1983 | +128.3% | 94,259 tonnes | 215,151 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4,397 tonnes | 2,008 tonnes | 8,243 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 8,689 tonnes | 2,494 tonnes | 21,915 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 282,589 tonnes | 40,967 tonnes | 487,019 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 394,962 tonnes | 283,983 tonnes | 538,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 349,694 tonnes | 230,029 tonnes | 398,965 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 293,183 tonnes | 241,981 tonnes | 320,397 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 415,440 tonnes | 402,589 tonnes | 429,914 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Saudi Arabia?
- Fertilizer consumption in Saudi Arabia was 419,940 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 538,600 tonnes in 1992.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,008 tonnes in 1967.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 38th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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).