Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa
South Africa: Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 21.67 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
21.67 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
down 7.0%
World rank
43rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
38.94 kilograms per hectare
in 1981
All-time low
9.38 kilograms per hectare
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa, 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 phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa is 21.67 kilograms per hectare, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.0% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa peaked at 38.94 kilograms per hectare in 1981 and was at its lowest, 9.38 kilograms per hectare, in 1961.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 9.38 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 11.06 kilograms per hectare | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 12.08 kilograms per hectare | +9.2% |
| 1964 | 13.12 kilograms per hectare | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 13.78 kilograms per hectare | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 17.75 kilograms per hectare | +28.8% |
| 1967 | 18.44 kilograms per hectare | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 19.26 kilograms per hectare | +4.4% |
| 1969 | 19.43 kilograms per hectare | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 20.24 kilograms per hectare | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 21.99 kilograms per hectare | +8.6% |
| 1972 | 23.48 kilograms per hectare | +6.8% |
| 1973 | 24.24 kilograms per hectare | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 25.75 kilograms per hectare | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 25.78 kilograms per hectare | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 26.21 kilograms per hectare | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 27.88 kilograms per hectare | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 29.03 kilograms per hectare | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 31.24 kilograms per hectare | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 32.64 kilograms per hectare | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 38.94 kilograms per hectare | +19.3% |
| 1982 | 35.84 kilograms per hectare | -8.0% |
| 1983 | 27.57 kilograms per hectare | -23.1% |
| 1984 | 29.39 kilograms per hectare | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 25.75 kilograms per hectare | -12.4% |
| 1986 | 23.21 kilograms per hectare | -9.9% |
| 1987 | 19.21 kilograms per hectare | -17.2% |
| 1988 | 21.54 kilograms per hectare | +12.1% |
| 1989 | 19.44 kilograms per hectare | -9.7% |
| 1990 | 18.58 kilograms per hectare | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 17.61 kilograms per hectare | -5.2% |
| 1992 | 16.26 kilograms per hectare | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 19.73 kilograms per hectare | +21.3% |
| 1994 | 16.15 kilograms per hectare | -18.1% |
| 1995 | 15.63 kilograms per hectare | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 16.46 kilograms per hectare | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 14.42 kilograms per hectare | -12.4% |
| 1998 | 13.95 kilograms per hectare | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 14.48 kilograms per hectare | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 11.85 kilograms per hectare | -18.2% |
| 2001 | 15.05 kilograms per hectare | +27.0% |
| 2002 | 14.35 kilograms per hectare | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 12.91 kilograms per hectare | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 14.99 kilograms per hectare | +16.1% |
| 2005 | 10.59 kilograms per hectare | -29.4% |
| 2006 | 14.15 kilograms per hectare | +33.6% |
| 2007 | 13.37 kilograms per hectare | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 12.63 kilograms per hectare | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 12.47 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 11.94 kilograms per hectare | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 13.45 kilograms per hectare | +12.6% |
| 2012 | 13.78 kilograms per hectare | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 19.43 kilograms per hectare | +41.0% |
| 2014 | 19.14 kilograms per hectare | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 19.08 kilograms per hectare | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 17.04 kilograms per hectare | -10.7% |
| 2017 | 19.43 kilograms per hectare | +14.0% |
| 2018 | 22.97 kilograms per hectare | +18.2% |
| 2019 | 23.59 kilograms per hectare | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 20.82 kilograms per hectare | -11.7% |
| 2021 | 25.29 kilograms per hectare | +21.5% |
| 2022 | 23.31 kilograms per hectare | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 21.67 kilograms per hectare | -7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.92 kilograms per hectare | 9.38 kilograms per hectare | 19.43 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 25.58 kilograms per hectare | 20.24 kilograms per hectare | 31.24 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.35 kilograms per hectare | 19.21 kilograms per hectare | 38.94 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.33 kilograms per hectare | 13.95 kilograms per hectare | 19.73 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.24 kilograms per hectare | 10.59 kilograms per hectare | 15.05 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.98 kilograms per hectare | 11.94 kilograms per hectare | 23.59 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.77 kilograms per hectare | 20.82 kilograms per hectare | 25.29 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 40 Saudi Arabia 22.29 kilograms per hectare compare
- 41 Bulgaria 22.03 kilograms per hectare compare
- 42 Honduras 21.96 kilograms per hectare compare
- 44 Lebanon 21.52 kilograms per hectare compare
- 45 Trinidad and Tobago 21.33 kilograms per hectare compare
- 46 Eswatini 20.95 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 phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa?
- Phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in South Africa was 21.67 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 38.94 kilograms per hectare in 1981.
- What is the lowest phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.38 kilograms per hectare in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is phosphate fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 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.