Nutrient balance — Cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa

South Africa: Nutrient balance — Cropland phosphorus per unit area was 1.7 kg/ha in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.7 kg/ha
Change on year
down 52.5%
Rank
16th
of 32 groups
All-time high
12.4 kg/ha
in 1982
All-time low
0.8531 kg/ha
in 2005
Years of data
63
1961–2023

Nutrient balance — Cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa, 1961–2023

02.557.51012.5196119922023

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/ha.

Analysis

The most recent figure for nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa is 1.7 kg/ha, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 52.5% on the previous year and down 38.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa peaked at 12.4 kg/ha in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0.8531 kg/ha, in 2005.

That places South Africa 16th out of 32 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 4.71 kg/ha 2.85 kg/ha 6.66 kg/ha 9
1970s 8.14 kg/ha 6.66 kg/ha 10.48 kg/ha 10
1980s 8.58 kg/ha 4.32 kg/ha 12.4 kg/ha 10
1990s 4.21 kg/ha 2.93 kg/ha 5.85 kg/ha 10
2000s 2.35 kg/ha 0.8531 kg/ha 3.34 kg/ha 10
2010s 3.39 kg/ha 1.27 kg/ha 5.36 kg/ha 10
2020s 3.26 kg/ha 1.7 kg/ha 4.46 kg/ha 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 13 Bangladesh 32.66 kg/ha compare
  2. 14 Republic of Korea 30.3 kg/ha compare
  3. 15 Mongolia 29.94 kg/ha compare
  4. 16 Malta 28.32 kg/ha compare
  5. 17 Cook Islands 26.86 kg/ha compare
  6. 18 Switzerland 23.85 kg/ha compare
  7. 19 Japan 22.49 kg/ha compare

See the full ranking of 233 places →

More environment data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa?
Nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa was 1.7 kg/ha in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12.4 kg/ha in 1982.
What is the lowest nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.8531 kg/ha in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area?
South Africa ranks 16th out of 32 groups with data for 2023.
Is nutrient balance — cropland phosphorus per unit area rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Nutrient balance — Cropland phosphorus per unit area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Nutrient balance — Cropland phosphorus per unit area in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 16 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/nutrient-balance-cropland-phosphorus-per-unit-area/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Nutrient balance — Cropland phosphorus per unit area
Unit
kg/ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
233 places, 13,500 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

The Cropland Nutrient balance domain contains information on the flows of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from mineral fertilizer, manure applied, atmospheric deposition, crop removal, and biological fixation over cropland and per unit area of cropland. The flows are aggregated to total inputs and total outputs, from which the overall nutrient balance and nutrient use efficiency on cropland are calculated. Statistics are disseminated in units of tonnes and in kg/ha, as appropriate. Nutrient use efficiency is expressed as a fraction (%).