FAO|Global pesticides used 4.2 million tons and inorganic fertilizers 190 million tonnes in 2019

FAO|Global pesticides used 4.2 million tons and inorganic fertilizers 190 million tonnes in 2019

The share of the Americas increased from 29 percent to 33 percent of global pesticides consumption while that of Europe decreased slightly from 14 percent to 11 percent. Africa and Oceania applied small amounts of pesticides over time, but Oceania nonetheless had the highest growth in pesticides applications(+85 percent). China was the largest pesticide user in 2019 with 1.8 million tonnes, or 42 percent of the world total, far ahead of the United States of America and Brazil (0.4 million tonnes each).

Global pesticides use per cropland area went up 28 percent in the 2000s, from 2.1 kg/ha to 2.6 kg/ha, and levelled out after 2010 (see Figure 2), although with some important regional differences. Pesticides application rates in 2019 were highest in the Americas, followed by Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa. In the 2010s, Oceania surpassed Europe, but both regions remained below the global average. Asia was the only region where pesticides use per cropland area did not increase between 2010 and 2019. The top three countries in terms of pesticides application rate for 2018 were Trinidad and Tobago, with 25 kg/ha, Saint Lucia, with 20 kg/ha and Ecuador, with 14 kg/ha.