Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Kenya
Kenya: Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land was 50.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
50.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land
Change on year
up 51.8%
World rank
123rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
59.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 2017
All-time low
3.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Kenya, 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
Kenya recorded 50.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land for fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 51.8% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Kenya peaked at 59.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2017 and was at its lowest, 3.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1961.
Kenya ranks 123rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Kenya, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 3.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.0% |
| 1963 | 4.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +32.4% |
| 1964 | 5.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.2% |
| 1965 | 6.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +24.7% |
| 1966 | 8.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +27.7% |
| 1967 | 9.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +8.6% |
| 1968 | 9.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 12.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +29.0% |
| 1970 | 14.14 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +17.0% |
| 1971 | 13.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.6% |
| 1972 | 15.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.7% |
| 1973 | 14.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 15.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 11.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -22.4% |
| 1976 | 14.18 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +21.1% |
| 1977 | 13.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 13.42 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 10.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -24.9% |
| 1980 | 16.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +60.8% |
| 1981 | 21.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +34.4% |
| 1982 | 16.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -24.3% |
| 1983 | 19.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +19.8% |
| 1984 | 21.95 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 22.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 21.42 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.5% |
| 1987 | 23.71 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +10.7% |
| 1988 | 24.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 20.12 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -18.9% |
| 1990 | 21.38 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.3% |
| 1991 | 22.11 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 19.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -12.9% |
| 1993 | 19.76 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 23.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +20.5% |
| 1995 | 14.42 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -39.4% |
| 1996 | 34.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +138.8% |
| 1997 | 27.92 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -18.9% |
| 1998 | 27.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 29.06 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 29.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 29.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 27.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 33.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +21.2% |
| 2004 | 27.68 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -16.4% |
| 2005 | 34.33 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +24.0% |
| 2006 | 33.15 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 36.4 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 33.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 34.04 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 32.48 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 37.8 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +16.4% |
| 2012 | 43.63 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.4% |
| 2013 | 50.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +16.8% |
| 2014 | 43.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -15.0% |
| 2015 | 35.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -18.1% |
| 2016 | 43.23 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +21.9% |
| 2017 | 59.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +37.7% |
| 2018 | 42.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -28.7% |
| 2019 | 50.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +18.1% |
| 2020 | 57.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 53.05 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 33.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -37.3% |
| 2023 | 50.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +51.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.03 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 3.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 12.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 13.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 15.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.87 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 16.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 24.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.93 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 14.42 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 34.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.83 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 27.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 36.4 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 32.48 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 59.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 33.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 57.56 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 120 Republic of Moldova 51.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 121 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 50.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 122 Iraq 50.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 124 Gabon 50.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 125 Argentina 50.19 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 126 Tunisia 49.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Kenya?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Kenya was 50.46 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 59.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2017.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of arable land recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for fertilizer use per hectare of arable land?
- Kenya ranks 123rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of arable land rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.