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

Key figures

Over five years it is down 10.38% from 464.19 in 2019 (2.17% a year on average, compounded). Since 1961 it is up 1,970% from 20.1 in 1961 (4.93% a year on average, compounded).

What the numbers say

In 2024, Colombia's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) fell 52.76 on 2023 (from 468.78 to 416.02).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +9.75 and a typical year strayed about 51.69 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 140.41 in 2010 and the biggest yearly fall was 106.55 in 2022. 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 17.98 a year. A straight line explains 75% 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 357.8 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 45.86, against 81.66 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, Colombia had the 12th 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 Colombia in the 2024 ranking

• Faroe Islands — 9th of 190: 571.43
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 10th of 190: 482.5
• Viet Nam — 11th of 190: 420.43
• Bangladesh — 13th of 190: 398.9
• Brazil — 14th of 190: 397.09
• China — 15th of 190: 393.27

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 64 values

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

• Antigua and Barbuda — 13.25 (2024)
• Argentina — 47 (2024)
• Aruba — 0 (2024)
• Bahamas, The — 123 (2024)
• Barbados — 32.29 (2024)
• Belize — 176.53 (2024)
• Bolivia — 9.33 (2024)
• Brazil — 397.09 (2024)
• Cayman Islands — 181.95 (2020)
• Chile — 263.79 (2024)
• Costa Rica — 1,403 (2024)
• Cuba — 3.34 (2024)
• Dominica — 72.91 (2024)
• Dominican Republic — 188.06 (2024)
• Ecuador — 263.69 (2024)

More environment data for Colombia

• Population in largest city — 11.8 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 28.03% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 23.8 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 44.54% (2025)
• Rural population — 11.34 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 21.22% (2025)
• Urban population — 42.09 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 78.78% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 210,520 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 493,550 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 704,070 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.21% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 1.35% (2025)
• Fertilizer consumption (% of fertilizer production) — 507.4% (2024)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 405,460 (2024)

Every indicator for Colombia is on the Colombia data page.

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

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

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

How has it changed since 1961?

It is up 1,970% from 20.1 in 1961 (4.93% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 659.8 in 2014 and the lowest 20.1 in 1961.

How does Colombia rank?

12th highest of 190 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) unusual for Colombia?

In 2024, Colombia's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) fell 52.76 on 2023 (from 468.78 to 416.02). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +9.75 and a typical year strayed about 51.69 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Where is Colombia's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) heading?

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is downward, about 17.98 a year. A straight line explains 75% of the movement over 10 observed years. Extending that straight line gives about 357.8 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 45.86, against 81.66 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.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, 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).

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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