Belgium: Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Belgium's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) rose 21.32 on 2023 (from 192.47 to 213.79).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (2003 to 2023), the average change was −6.37 and a typical year strayed about 32.68 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 57.53 in 2009 and the biggest yearly fall was 110.6 in 2008. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is downward, about 10.95 a year. A straight line explains 83% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 168.78 for 2027. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2022 to 2024 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 29.59, against 50.97 for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

In 2024, Belgium had the 35th highest value of the 190 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Belgium in the 2024 ranking

• Qatar — 32nd of 190: 240.99
• Slovenia — 33rd of 190: 237.88
• India — 34th of 190: 214.08
• Guatemala — 36th of 190: 204.89
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines — 37th of 190: 203
• St. Lucia — 38th of 190: 199.62

What this measures

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.

Limitations: The FAO has revised the time series for fertilizer consumption and irrigation for 2002 onward. FAO collects fertilizer statistics for production, imports, exports, and consumption through the new FAO fertilizer resources questionnaire. In the previous release, the data were based on total consumption of fertilizers, but the data in the recent release are based on the nutrients in fertilizers. Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others compile on a crop year basis (July-June).

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 23 values

Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in nearby economies

• Albania — 66.2 (2024)
• Armenia — 41.2 (2024)
• Austria — 117.09 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 32.09 (2024)
• Belarus — 194.36 (2024)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 169.47 (2024)
• Bulgaria — 119.75 (2024)
• Croatia — 181.79 (2024)
• Cyprus — 175.68 (2024)

More environment data for Belgium

• Population in largest city — 2.14 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 20.45% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 3.21 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 26.85% (2025)
• Rural population — 1.47 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 12.33% (2025)
• Urban population — 10.47 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 87.67% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 303 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Belgium's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land)?

213.79 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2002?

It is down 34.46% from 326.22 in 2002 (1.9% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 339.42 in 2003 and the lowest 192.47 in 2023.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator AG.CON.FERT.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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