Insecticide use in Germany
Germany: Insecticide use was 16,113 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Insecticide use in Germany, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for insecticide use in Germany is 16,113 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% on the previous year and up 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, insecticide use in Germany peaked at 21,348 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 852 tonnes, in 2006.
That places Germany 8th out of 211 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Insecticide use in Germany, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,838 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 1,477 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1992 | 1,098 tonnes | -25.7% |
| 1993 | 1,790 tonnes | +63.0% |
| 1994 | 1,439 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1995 | 1,518 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 1,296 tonnes | -14.6% |
| 1997 | 1,311 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 1,631 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1999 | 1,501 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 1,415 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 1,341 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 1,437 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 1,083 tonnes | -24.6% |
| 2004 | 1,255 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2005 | 1,015 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 2006 | 852 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 2007 | 1,499 tonnes | +75.9% |
| 2008 | 1,298 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2009 | 1,507 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 2010 | 1,363 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 12,123 tonnes | +789.4% |
| 2012 | 13,193 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 12,353 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 12,895 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 15,145 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 2016 | 15,702 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 14,732 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 16,392 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 2019 | 18,758 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2020 | 21,348 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 20,744 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 17,254 tonnes | -16.8% |
| 2023 | 16,113 tonnes | -6.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 16,113 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90 tonnes, 179.0× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Germany's 16,113 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 198 tonnes, 81.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Insecticide use in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +789.4% | 1,363 tonnes | 12,123 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,490 tonnes | 1,098 tonnes | 1,838 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,270 tonnes | 852 tonnes | 1,507 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,266 tonnes | 1,363 tonnes | 18,758 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,865 tonnes | 16,113 tonnes | 21,348 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is insecticide use in Germany?
- Insecticide use in Germany was 16,113 tonnes in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest insecticide use recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 21,348 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest insecticide use recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 852 tonnes in 2006.
- How does Germany rank for insecticide use?
- Germany ranks 8th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is insecticide use rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Insecticide use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual quantity of insecticides used in agriculture, measured as the tonnes of active ingredient per year.