Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana
Botswana: Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 13.02 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana, 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
In 2023, phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana stood at 13.02 kilograms per hectare. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 107.7% on the previous year and up 843.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana peaked at 13.02 kilograms per hectare in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.25 kilograms per hectare, in 1962.
Botswana ranks 83rd of 201 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.
Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.28 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 0.25 kilograms per hectare | -10.7% |
| 1963 | 0.25 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.25 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.25 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.3 kilograms per hectare | +20.0% |
| 1967 | 0.5 kilograms per hectare | +66.7% |
| 1968 | 1.25 kilograms per hectare | +150.0% |
| 1969 | 1.25 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.5 kilograms per hectare | +20.0% |
| 1971 | 1.5 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 1.74 kilograms per hectare | +16.8% |
| 1974 | 1.99 kilograms per hectare | +14.4% |
| 1975 | 2.24 kilograms per hectare | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 2.49 kilograms per hectare | +11.2% |
| 1977 | 2.74 kilograms per hectare | +10.0% |
| 1978 | 2.74 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | -45.6% |
| 1980 | 1.98 kilograms per hectare | +32.9% |
| 1981 | 1.98 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.97 kilograms per hectare | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 0.99 kilograms per hectare | -49.7% |
| 1984 | 0.99 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.54 kilograms per hectare | -45.5% |
| 1986 | 0.76 kilograms per hectare | +40.7% |
| 1987 | 0.98 kilograms per hectare | +28.9% |
| 1988 | 0.98 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.96 kilograms per hectare | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 0.95 kilograms per hectare | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 1.33 kilograms per hectare | +40.0% |
| 1992 | 1.59 kilograms per hectare | +19.5% |
| 1993 | 1.14 kilograms per hectare | -28.3% |
| 1994 | 1.01 kilograms per hectare | -11.4% |
| 1995 | 0.31 kilograms per hectare | -69.3% |
| 1996 | 0.3 kilograms per hectare | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 0.66 kilograms per hectare | +120.0% |
| 1998 | 1.3 kilograms per hectare | +97.0% |
| 1999 | 1.24 kilograms per hectare | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 0.85 kilograms per hectare | -31.5% |
| 2001 | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | +75.3% |
| 2009 | 2.82 kilograms per hectare | +89.3% |
| 2010 | 3.21 kilograms per hectare | +13.8% |
| 2011 | 2.27 kilograms per hectare | -29.3% |
| 2012 | 0.88 kilograms per hectare | -61.2% |
| 2013 | 1.38 kilograms per hectare | +56.8% |
| 2014 | 2.78 kilograms per hectare | +101.4% |
| 2015 | 7.87 kilograms per hectare | +183.1% |
| 2016 | 2.9 kilograms per hectare | -63.2% |
| 2017 | 6.33 kilograms per hectare | +118.3% |
| 2018 | 5.41 kilograms per hectare | -14.5% |
| 2019 | 6.38 kilograms per hectare | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 8.29 kilograms per hectare | +29.9% |
| 2021 | 4.81 kilograms per hectare | -42.0% |
| 2022 | 6.27 kilograms per hectare | +30.4% |
| 2023 | 13.02 kilograms per hectare | +107.7% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 13.02 kilograms per hectare is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.04 kilograms per hectare, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 13.02 kilograms per hectare is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.54 kilograms per hectare, 8.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +183.1% | 2.78 kilograms per hectare | 7.87 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5089 kilograms per hectare | 0.25 kilograms per hectare | 1.25 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.99 kilograms per hectare | 1.49 kilograms per hectare | 2.74 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.21 kilograms per hectare | 0.54 kilograms per hectare | 1.98 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.983 kilograms per hectare | 0.3 kilograms per hectare | 1.59 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.72 kilograms per hectare | 0.85 kilograms per hectare | 2.82 kilograms per hectare | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.94 kilograms per hectare | 0.88 kilograms per hectare | 7.87 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.1 kilograms per hectare | 4.81 kilograms per hectare | 13.02 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0178 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 138.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0839 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3204 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana?
- Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Botswana was 13.02 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 phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 13.02 kilograms per hectare in 2023.
- What is the lowest phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.25 kilograms per hectare in 1962.
- How does Botswana rank for phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- Botswana ranks 83rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 843.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana 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 Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Application of phosphate fertilizer, measured in kilograms of total nutrient per hectare.