South Africa: Fertilizer use

The latest value from 2023 is 77.2 kg per hectare of arable land, a decline from 91.5 kg per hectare of arable land in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 153.7 kg per hectare of arable land, based on data from 187 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1961 to 2023 is 61 kg per hectare of arable land. The minimum value, 17.9 kg per hectare of arable land, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 104.6 kg per hectare of arable land was recorded in 2021. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: Fertilizer consumption measures the quantity of plant nutrients used per unit of arable land. Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Traditional nutrients--animal and plant manures--are not included. For the purpose of data dissemination, FAO has adopted the concept of a calendar year (January to December). Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others are on a split-year basis. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.