Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea
North Korea: Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 13.23 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
13.23 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
up 107.7%
World rank
153rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
345.08 kilograms per hectare
in 1985
All-time low
6.37 kilograms per hectare
in 2022
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea is 13.23 kilograms per hectare, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 107.7% on the previous year and down 80.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea peaked at 345.08 kilograms per hectare in 1985 and was at its lowest, 6.37 kilograms per hectare, in 2022.
North Korea ranks 153rd of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 51.49 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 63.89 kilograms per hectare | +24.1% |
| 1963 | 72.61 kilograms per hectare | +13.6% |
| 1964 | 75.37 kilograms per hectare | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 79.46 kilograms per hectare | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 85.39 kilograms per hectare | +7.5% |
| 1967 | 95.46 kilograms per hectare | +11.8% |
| 1968 | 114.72 kilograms per hectare | +20.2% |
| 1969 | 115.21 kilograms per hectare | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 141.79 kilograms per hectare | +23.1% |
| 1971 | 153.86 kilograms per hectare | +8.5% |
| 1972 | 164.53 kilograms per hectare | +6.9% |
| 1973 | 164.99 kilograms per hectare | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 184.63 kilograms per hectare | +11.9% |
| 1975 | 190.95 kilograms per hectare | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 241.79 kilograms per hectare | +26.6% |
| 1977 | 267.61 kilograms per hectare | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 335.6 kilograms per hectare | +25.4% |
| 1979 | 327.59 kilograms per hectare | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 305.47 kilograms per hectare | -6.8% |
| 1981 | 327.67 kilograms per hectare | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 307.47 kilograms per hectare | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 311.07 kilograms per hectare | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 314.02 kilograms per hectare | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 345.08 kilograms per hectare | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 308.62 kilograms per hectare | -10.6% |
| 1987 | 304.56 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 329.23 kilograms per hectare | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 332.72 kilograms per hectare | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 339.13 kilograms per hectare | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 327.62 kilograms per hectare | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 315.78 kilograms per hectare | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 310.3 kilograms per hectare | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 125.13 kilograms per hectare | -59.7% |
| 1995 | 40.53 kilograms per hectare | -67.6% |
| 1996 | 37.58 kilograms per hectare | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 69.14 kilograms per hectare | +84.0% |
| 1998 | 63.51 kilograms per hectare | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 102.15 kilograms per hectare | +60.8% |
| 2000 | 103.25 kilograms per hectare | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 113.36 kilograms per hectare | +9.8% |
| 2002 | 49.88 kilograms per hectare | -56.0% |
| 2003 | 41.47 kilograms per hectare | -16.9% |
| 2004 | 64.35 kilograms per hectare | +55.2% |
| 2005 | 57.06 kilograms per hectare | -11.3% |
| 2006 | 60.87 kilograms per hectare | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 47.81 kilograms per hectare | -21.5% |
| 2008 | 45.24 kilograms per hectare | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 51.7 kilograms per hectare | +14.3% |
| 2010 | 67.46 kilograms per hectare | +30.5% |
| 2011 | 82.28 kilograms per hectare | +22.0% |
| 2012 | 64.84 kilograms per hectare | -21.2% |
| 2013 | 68.61 kilograms per hectare | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 56 kilograms per hectare | -18.4% |
| 2015 | 46.19 kilograms per hectare | -17.5% |
| 2016 | 61.35 kilograms per hectare | +32.8% |
| 2017 | 59.22 kilograms per hectare | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 81.07 kilograms per hectare | +36.9% |
| 2019 | 41.76 kilograms per hectare | -48.5% |
| 2020 | 17.07 kilograms per hectare | -59.1% |
| 2021 | 17 kilograms per hectare | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 6.37 kilograms per hectare | -62.5% |
| 2023 | 13.23 kilograms per hectare | +107.7% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 13.23 kilograms per hectare is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.69 kilograms per hectare, 1.7× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 13.23 kilograms per hectare is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 57.15 kilograms per hectare, 23% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +107.7% | 6.37 kilograms per hectare | 13.23 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 83.73 kilograms per hectare | 51.49 kilograms per hectare | 115.21 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 217.33 kilograms per hectare | 141.79 kilograms per hectare | 335.6 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 318.59 kilograms per hectare | 304.56 kilograms per hectare | 345.08 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 173.09 kilograms per hectare | 37.58 kilograms per hectare | 339.13 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.5 kilograms per hectare | 41.47 kilograms per hectare | 113.36 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.88 kilograms per hectare | 41.76 kilograms per hectare | 82.28 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.42 kilograms per hectare | 6.37 kilograms per hectare | 17.07 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 150 Cote d'Ivoire 14.71 kilograms per hectare compare
- 151 Mozambique 14.13 kilograms per hectare compare
- 152 Syria 14 kilograms per hectare compare
- 154 Cameroon 12.87 kilograms per hectare compare
- 155 French Polynesia 11.48 kilograms per hectare compare
- 156 Vanuatu 10.67 kilograms per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for North Korea
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0256 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population 9.52 million (2025)
- Rural population growth -0.6% (2025)
- Rural population 35.8% (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3581 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6454 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0976 hectares per person (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0957 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0251 % change on previous year (2025)
- Aquaculture production 685,700 metric tons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in North Korea was 13.23 kilograms per hectare 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 per hectare of cropland recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 345.08 kilograms per hectare in 1985.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.37 kilograms per hectare in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- North Korea ranks 153rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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 per hectare of cropland. 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 of all fertilizer products (including nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers) per area of cropland, which corresponds to the sum of arable land and permanent crops.