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September 23, 2025 Article/Editing:

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Chart: China’s Fertilizer Consumption Peaked a Decade Ago

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China’s fertilizer consumption peaked in 2015 at over 50 million tonnes, and has been in steady decline since.

Government policy, efficiency incentives, and a pivot to sustainable agriculture are key drivers behind the drop.

China’s pesticide use is also following a similar downward trend—a promising sign for global environmental goals.

Fertilizer use plays a vital role in modern agriculture, but too much of it can have serious environmental downsides, from soil degradation to runoff pollution. In the case of China, the world’s second most populous country and one of its largest food producers, the trajectory of fertilizer consumption has taken a notable turn in recent years.

According to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) visualized by Our World in Data, China’s fertilizer consumption peaked in 2015 and has since declined significantly.

EntityYearAll fertilizers use per hectare of cropland

China	1961	7.0
China	1962	9.5
China	1963	12.0
China	1964	16.2
China	1965	25.1
China	1966	36.0
China	1967	26.2
China	1968	26.3
China	1969	34.1
China	1970	43.4
China	1971	45.1
China	1972	52.0
China	1973	64.1
China	1974	55.2
China	1975	68.7
China	1976	64.5
China	1977	91.8
China	1978	109.3
China	1979	131.7
China	1980	154.4
China	1981	151.5
China	1982	156.2
China	1983	168.2
China	1984	170.3
China	1985	138.2
China	1986	136.9
China	1987	178.4
China	1988	197.5
China	1989	196.1
China	1990	207.7
China	1991	224.1
China	1992	223.4
China	1993	192.9
China	1994	221.9
China	1995	273.7
China	1996	276.7
China	1997	274.1
China	1998	275.5
China	1999	280.2
China	2000	263.1
China	2001	270.6
China	2002	305.0
China	2003	299.7
China	2004	320.3
China	2005	340.3
China	2006	339.4
China	2007	347.3
China	2008	335.1
China	2009	344.3
China	2010	379.4
China	2011	394.2
China	2012	403.1
China	2013	403.1
China	2014	419.5
China	2015	421.5
China	2016	413.6
China	2017	404.7
China	2018	387.3
China	2019	370.2
China	2020	357.6
China	2021	349.5
China	2022	336.2

At its peak, China was using over 50 million tonnes of fertilizer annually. But since then, usage has dropped by nearly 20%—a striking reversal after decades of uninterrupted growth. The most recent data (2022) shows consumption falling below 40 million tonnes for the first time since the early 2000s.

What’s Driving the Drop?

The sharp pivot in China’s fertilizer use isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a coordinated policy shift by the Chinese government starting in the mid-2010s. As outlined in analysis by the World Economic Forum, the government introduced a series of reforms encouraging “zero growth” in fertilizer and pesticide use, while also promoting precision agriculture.

Incentives for soil testing, organic substitutes, and the efficient placement of fertilizer helped reduce overall inputs without harming yields. In fact, despite the drop in fertilizer usage, China has continued to boost crop output—demonstrating that smarter farming doesn’t require more chemicals.

Environmental Implications

This reduction is good news for both China and the planet. Overuse of synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers contributes to pollution of water systems, greenhouse gas emissions, and the degradation of cropland.

As the chart above shows, the decline in fertilizer use is also being mirrored by a similar trend in pesticide use, which began declining in China around the same time.

Looking Ahead

China’s success in decoupling fertilizer use from agricultural productivity provides a potential blueprint for other nations grappling with environmental concerns. As the world looks to feed a growing population with fewer ecological costs, the lessons from China’s past decade may prove invaluable.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

Check out the full data story: Population Growth, Crop Production, and Fertilizer Use Since 1960 on the Voronoi app.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.