Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China
China: Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land was 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
11th
of 199 countries
All-time high
480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 2016
All-time low
7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare of arable land.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China is 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China peaked at 480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2016 and was at its lowest, 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1961.
China ranks 11th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 9.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +36.3% |
| 1963 | 12.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +26.3% |
| 1964 | 16.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +34.7% |
| 1965 | 25.62 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +55.7% |
| 1966 | 36.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +43.5% |
| 1967 | 26.78 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -27.1% |
| 1968 | 26.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 34.82 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +29.5% |
| 1970 | 44.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +27.5% |
| 1971 | 46.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 53.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.4% |
| 1973 | 65.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +23.4% |
| 1974 | 56.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -13.9% |
| 1975 | 70.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +24.7% |
| 1976 | 66.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.1% |
| 1977 | 94.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +42.5% |
| 1978 | 112.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +19.1% |
| 1979 | 135.84 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.6% |
| 1980 | 159.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +17.4% |
| 1981 | 156.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 161.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 173.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 175.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 143.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -18.2% |
| 1986 | 143.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 188.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +31.3% |
| 1988 | 209.44 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 208.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 220.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 237.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 237.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 206.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -13.0% |
| 1994 | 238.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.6% |
| 1995 | 297.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +24.5% |
| 1996 | 301.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 299.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 300.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 306.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 287.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 295.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 333.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.9% |
| 2003 | 328.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 352.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 375.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 374.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 385.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 372.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 383.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 425.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 444.65 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 457.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 458.52 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 477.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 465.61 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 460.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 442.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 427.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 414.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 406.23 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 395.14 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 36.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 74.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 44.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 135.84 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 172.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 143.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 209.44 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 264.68 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 206.75 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 306.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 348.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 287.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 385.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 453.97 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 425.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 402.47 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 414.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 8 Egypt 532.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 9 Hong Kong 484 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 10 Viet Nam 419.95 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 12 Bangladesh 391.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 13 Colombia 372.91 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 14 Turkmenistan 347.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in China was 394.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertilizer use per hectare of arable land recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 480.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2016.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of arable land recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1961.
- How does China rank for fertilizer use per hectare of arable land?
- China ranks 11th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of arable land rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land. 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
Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Animal and plant manures are not included. Application rates are measured in kilograms per hectare.