Insecticide use in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Insecticide use was 330 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Insecticide use in United Kingdom, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, insecticide use in United Kingdom stood at 330 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 58.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, insecticide use in United Kingdom peaked at 3,029 tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, 132 tonnes, in 2018.
United Kingdom ranks 90th of 211 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Insecticide use in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,083 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 1,854 tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1992 | 1,553 tonnes | -16.2% |
| 1993 | 1,611 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 1,771 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 1,667 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 1,654 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 1,663 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 1,554 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 1,616 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 1,732 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 1,644 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 1,571 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 1,381 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 2004 | 1,274 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 1,287 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 1,491 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 1,397 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 1,279 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 1,237 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 992 tonnes | -19.8% |
| 2011 | 3,029 tonnes | +205.3% |
| 2012 | 704 tonnes | -76.8% |
| 2013 | 789 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2014 | 959 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 2015 | 658 tonnes | -31.4% |
| 2016 | 348 tonnes | -47.1% |
| 2017 | 434 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 2018 | 132 tonnes | -69.6% |
| 2019 | 226 tonnes | +71.2% |
| 2020 | 388 tonnes | +71.7% |
| 2021 | 336 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2022 | 330 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 330 tonnes | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 330 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90 tonnes, 3.7× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 330 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 198 tonnes, 1.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Insecticide use in United Kingdom 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 | +205.3% | 992 tonnes | 3,029 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,703 tonnes | 1,553 tonnes | 2,083 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,429 tonnes | 1,237 tonnes | 1,732 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 827.1 tonnes | 132 tonnes | 3,029 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 346 tonnes | 330 tonnes | 388 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is insecticide use in United Kingdom?
- Insecticide use in United Kingdom was 330 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3,029 tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest insecticide use recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 132 tonnes in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for insecticide use?
- United Kingdom ranks 90th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is insecticide use rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.