Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa
South Africa: Pesticide use per hectare of cropland was 3.39 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.39 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
77th
of 198 countries
All-time high
3.43 kilograms per hectare
in 2021
All-time low
1.2 kilograms per hectare
in 1994
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa, 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
In 2023, pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa stood at 3.39 kilograms per hectare.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa peaked at 3.43 kilograms per hectare in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.2 kilograms per hectare, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 77th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.27 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1991 | 1.26 kilograms per hectare | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 1.23 kilograms per hectare | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 1.21 kilograms per hectare | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 1.2 kilograms per hectare | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 1.3 kilograms per hectare | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 1.39 kilograms per hectare | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 1.54 kilograms per hectare | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 1.73 kilograms per hectare | +12.3% |
| 1999 | 1.85 kilograms per hectare | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 1.89 kilograms per hectare | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 1.83 kilograms per hectare | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 1.93 kilograms per hectare | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 1.95 kilograms per hectare | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 2.05 kilograms per hectare | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 2.19 kilograms per hectare | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 2.22 kilograms per hectare | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 2.27 kilograms per hectare | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 2.51 kilograms per hectare | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 2.5 kilograms per hectare | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 2.59 kilograms per hectare | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 2.68 kilograms per hectare | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 2.77 kilograms per hectare | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 2.93 kilograms per hectare | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 3.09 kilograms per hectare | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 3.04 kilograms per hectare | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 2.89 kilograms per hectare | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 3.18 kilograms per hectare | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 3.14 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.15 kilograms per hectare | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.35 kilograms per hectare | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 3.43 kilograms per hectare | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 3.4 kilograms per hectare | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 3.39 kilograms per hectare | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.4 kilograms per hectare | 1.2 kilograms per hectare | 1.85 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.13 kilograms per hectare | 1.83 kilograms per hectare | 2.51 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.95 kilograms per hectare | 2.59 kilograms per hectare | 3.18 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.39 kilograms per hectare | 3.35 kilograms per hectare | 3.43 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 75 Germany 3.41 kilograms per hectare compare
- 75 Oman 3.41 kilograms per hectare compare
- 78 Philippines 3.36 kilograms per hectare compare
- 79 Republic of Moldova 3.27 kilograms per hectare compare
- 80 Spain 3.19 kilograms per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa?
- Pesticide use per hectare of cropland in South Africa was 3.39 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.43 kilograms per hectare in 2021.
- What is the lowest pesticide use per hectare of cropland recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2 kilograms per hectare in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for pesticide use per hectare of cropland?
- South Africa ranks 77th out of 198 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.