Fertilizer consumption in Zambia
Zambia: Fertilizer consumption was 293,607 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
293,607 tonnes
Change on year
up 19.7%
World rank
49th
of 201 countries
All-time high
303,089 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
8,525 tonnes
in 1962
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer consumption in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 293,607 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.7% on the previous year and up 62.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Zambia peaked at 303,089 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 8,525 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Zambia 49th 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 10,202 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 8,525 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1963 | 9,147 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1964 | 10,566 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 11,027 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 12,188 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1967 | 14,772 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1968 | 19,114 tonnes | +29.4% |
| 1969 | 16,409 tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1970 | 36,201 tonnes | +120.6% |
| 1971 | 53,299 tonnes | +47.2% |
| 1972 | 41,743 tonnes | -21.7% |
| 1973 | 43,451 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 61,992 tonnes | +42.7% |
| 1975 | 53,277 tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1976 | 58,504 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 67,488 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1978 | 50,598 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1979 | 57,698 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1980 | 78,591 tonnes | +36.2% |
| 1981 | 85,210 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1982 | 83,188 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 68,712 tonnes | -17.4% |
| 1984 | 56,275 tonnes | -18.1% |
| 1985 | 80,132 tonnes | +42.4% |
| 1986 | 76,950 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 95,277 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1988 | 86,847 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 79,298 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 59,501 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1991 | 62,488 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 84,476 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1993 | 85,377 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 58,983 tonnes | -30.9% |
| 1995 | 54,980 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 51,412 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 56,693 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1998 | 36,701 tonnes | -35.3% |
| 1999 | 34,028 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2000 | 31,406 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 36,421 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 2002 | 67,336 tonnes | +84.9% |
| 2003 | 75,198 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2004 | 85,577 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2005 | 76,314 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 77,389 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 95,339 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 2008 | 117,985 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 2009 | 91,551 tonnes | -22.4% |
| 2010 | 99,197 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 166,129 tonnes | +67.5% |
| 2012 | 143,006 tonnes | -13.9% |
| 2013 | 181,170 tonnes | +26.7% |
| 2014 | 191,759 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 212,450 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 243,147 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2017 | 273,797 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 199,551 tonnes | -27.1% |
| 2019 | 256,791 tonnes | +28.7% |
| 2020 | 303,089 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 2021 | 242,817 tonnes | -19.9% |
| 2022 | 245,350 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 293,607 tonnes | +19.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 293,607 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 86,615 tonnes, 3.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 293,607 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24,201 tonnes, 12.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12,439 tonnes | 8,525 tonnes | 19,114 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 52,425 tonnes | 36,201 tonnes | 67,488 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 79,048 tonnes | 56,275 tonnes | 95,277 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,464 tonnes | 34,028 tonnes | 85,377 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 75,452 tonnes | 31,406 tonnes | 117,985 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 196,700 tonnes | 99,197 tonnes | 273,797 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 271,216 tonnes | 242,817 tonnes | 303,089 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Zambia?
- Fertilizer consumption in Zambia was 293,607 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 303,089 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,525 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Zambia rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Zambia ranks 49th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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).