Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Pesticide use per hectare of cropland was 0.88 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia, 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
Saudi Arabia recorded 0.88 kilograms per hectare for pesticide use per hectare of cropland in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 53.4% on the previous year and down 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.93 kilograms per hectare in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.26 kilograms per hectare, in 1993.
Saudi Arabia ranks 136th of 198 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.
Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.29 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1991 | 0.27 kilograms per hectare | -6.9% |
| 1992 | 0.27 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.26 kilograms per hectare | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 0.26 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.26 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.26 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.66 kilograms per hectare | +153.8% |
| 1998 | 0.71 kilograms per hectare | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 0.75 kilograms per hectare | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 0.8 kilograms per hectare | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 0.84 kilograms per hectare | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 0.89 kilograms per hectare | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 0.94 kilograms per hectare | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 0.98 kilograms per hectare | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 1.03 kilograms per hectare | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 1.07 kilograms per hectare | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 1.12 kilograms per hectare | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 1.17 kilograms per hectare | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 1.23 kilograms per hectare | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 1.29 kilograms per hectare | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 1.34 kilograms per hectare | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 1.4 kilograms per hectare | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 1.46 kilograms per hectare | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 1.73 kilograms per hectare | +18.5% |
| 2015 | 1.98 kilograms per hectare | +14.5% |
| 2016 | 2.22 kilograms per hectare | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 2.46 kilograms per hectare | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 2.7 kilograms per hectare | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 2.93 kilograms per hectare | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 2.03 kilograms per hectare | -30.7% |
| 2021 | 1.96 kilograms per hectare | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 1.89 kilograms per hectare | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 0.88 kilograms per hectare | -53.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 0.88 kilograms per hectare is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.17 kilograms per hectare, 21% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 0.88 kilograms per hectare is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.91 kilograms per hectare, 46% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +153.8% | 0.26 kilograms per hectare | 0.66 kilograms per hectare |
| 2023 | -53.4% | 1.89 kilograms per hectare | 0.88 kilograms per hectare |
| 2020 | -30.7% | 2.93 kilograms per hectare | 2.03 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.399 kilograms per hectare | 0.26 kilograms per hectare | 0.75 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 kilograms per hectare | 0.8 kilograms per hectare | 1.23 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.95 kilograms per hectare | 1.29 kilograms per hectare | 2.93 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.69 kilograms per hectare | 0.88 kilograms per hectare | 2.03 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.2322 % 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 0.0992 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0065 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 3.72 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia?
- Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in Saudi Arabia was 0.88 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.93 kilograms per hectare in 2019.
- What is the lowest pesticide use per hectare of cropland recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.26 kilograms per hectare in 1993.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for pesticide use per hectare of cropland?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 136th out of 198 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
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About this data
Average pesticide application per unit of cropland, measured in kilograms per hectare.