Fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Fertilizer use by nutrient was 35,723 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan stood at 35,723 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 37.2% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan peaked at 140,776 tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1,000 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Afghanistan 103rd out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 9,000 tonnes | +800.0% |
| 1968 | 14,000 tonnes | +55.6% |
| 1969 | 15,000 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 16,000 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1971 | 14,800 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1972 | 16,000 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1973 | 17,700 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1974 | 24,200 tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1975 | 27,668 tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1976 | 30,646 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1977 | 37,014 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1978 | 35,497 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1979 | 33,227 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1980 | 37,846 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 28,740 tonnes | -24.1% |
| 1982 | 38,843 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1983 | 36,800 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 52,820 tonnes | +43.5% |
| 1985 | 53,182 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 50,720 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 52,800 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 49,830 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 44,100 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1991 | 42,800 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 38,900 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1993 | 40,000 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 5,000 tonnes | -87.5% |
| 1997 | 5,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 6,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1999 | 5,000 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 2000 | 5,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 18,400 tonnes | +268.0% |
| 2002 | 24,524 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 2003 | 20,407 tonnes | -16.8% |
| 2004 | 22,340 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 20,466 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 20,463 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 16,377 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2008 | 14,432 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2009 | 14,156 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 12,929 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 22,971 tonnes | +77.7% |
| 2012 | 17,065 tonnes | -25.7% |
| 2013 | 34,904 tonnes | +104.5% |
| 2014 | 73,873 tonnes | +111.6% |
| 2015 | 92,516 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 2016 | 96,671 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 140,776 tonnes | +45.6% |
| 2018 | 120,610 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2019 | 59,692 tonnes | -50.5% |
| 2020 | 43,142 tonnes | -27.7% |
| 2021 | 33,342 tonnes | -22.7% |
| 2022 | 26,036 tonnes | -21.9% |
| 2023 | 35,723 tonnes | +37.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 35,723 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 14,884 tonnes, 2.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 35,723 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29,329 tonnes, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +800.0% | 1,000 tonnes | 9,000 tonnes |
| 2001 | +268.0% | 5,000 tonnes | 18,400 tonnes |
| 2014 | +111.6% | 34,904 tonnes | 73,873 tonnes |
| 2013 | +104.5% | 17,065 tonnes | 34,904 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4,889 tonnes | 1,000 tonnes | 15,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 25,275 tonnes | 14,800 tonnes | 37,014 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 45,158 tonnes | 28,740 tonnes | 53,182 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 23,350 tonnes | 5,000 tonnes | 44,100 tonnes | 8 |
| 2000s | 17,656 tonnes | 5,000 tonnes | 24,524 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 67,201 tonnes | 12,929 tonnes | 140,776 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 34,561 tonnes | 26,036 tonnes | 43,142 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More agriculture & rural data for Afghanistan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3429 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 142.96 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7406 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 34.3% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 34.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 21.0% (2019)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.8% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan?
- Fertilizer use by nutrient in Afghanistan was 35,723 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 use by nutrient recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 140,776 tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use by nutrient recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Afghanistan rank for fertilizer use by nutrient?
- Afghanistan ranks 103rd out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use by nutrient rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 use by nutrient. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Fertilizer use in the agricultural sector, which includes use for crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.