Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Korea
South Korea: Pesticide use per hectare of cropland was 13.49 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
13.49 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
26th
of 198 countries
All-time high
14.94 kilograms per hectare
in 2001
All-time low
10.08 kilograms per hectare
in 2012
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Korea, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 13.49 kilograms per hectare for pesticide use per hectare of cropland in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Korea peaked at 14.94 kilograms per hectare in 2001 and was at its lowest, 10.08 kilograms per hectare, in 2012.
South Korea ranks 26th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.89 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1991 | 13.14 kilograms per hectare | +10.5% |
| 1992 | 12.91 kilograms per hectare | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 12.65 kilograms per hectare | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 12.75 kilograms per hectare | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 13.02 kilograms per hectare | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 12.66 kilograms per hectare | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 12.9 kilograms per hectare | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 11.57 kilograms per hectare | -10.3% |
| 1999 | 13.61 kilograms per hectare | +17.6% |
| 2000 | 13.39 kilograms per hectare | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 14.94 kilograms per hectare | +11.6% |
| 2002 | 13.87 kilograms per hectare | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 13.33 kilograms per hectare | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 13.79 kilograms per hectare | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 13.44 kilograms per hectare | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 13.38 kilograms per hectare | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 13.62 kilograms per hectare | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 14.42 kilograms per hectare | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 13.12 kilograms per hectare | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 11.91 kilograms per hectare | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 11.27 kilograms per hectare | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 10.08 kilograms per hectare | -10.6% |
| 2013 | 10.93 kilograms per hectare | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 11.7 kilograms per hectare | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 11.6 kilograms per hectare | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 12.04 kilograms per hectare | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 12.37 kilograms per hectare | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 11.73 kilograms per hectare | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 10.59 kilograms per hectare | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 10.95 kilograms per hectare | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 12.29 kilograms per hectare | +12.2% |
| 2022 | 13.01 kilograms per hectare | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 13.49 kilograms per hectare | +3.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 13.49 kilograms per hectare is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.17 kilograms per hectare, 3.2× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 13.49 kilograms per hectare is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.29 kilograms per hectare, 3.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.71 kilograms per hectare | 11.57 kilograms per hectare | 13.61 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.73 kilograms per hectare | 13.12 kilograms per hectare | 14.94 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.42 kilograms per hectare | 10.08 kilograms per hectare | 12.37 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.43 kilograms per hectare | 10.95 kilograms per hectare | 13.49 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More agriculture & rural data for South Korea
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0286 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0297 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Korea?
- Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Korea was 13.49 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 pesticide use per hectare of cropland recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 14.94 kilograms per hectare in 2001.
- What is the lowest pesticide use per hectare of cropland recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.08 kilograms per hectare in 2012.
- How does South Korea rank for pesticide use per hectare of cropland?
- South Korea ranks 26th out of 198 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South 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 Pesticide use per hectare of cropland. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average pesticide application per unit of cropland, measured in kilograms per hectare.