Pesticide use in Australia
Australia: Pesticide use was 182,264 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Pesticide use in Australia, 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 pesticide use in Australia is 182,264 tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.6% on the previous year and up 303.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use in Australia peaked at 182,264 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 17,867 tonnes, in 1990.
Australia ranks 6th of 211 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Pesticide use in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17,867 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 17,867 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 22,235 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1993 | 23,899 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 21,057 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1995 | 25,598 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 1996 | 31,185 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1997 | 34,092 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 37,215 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 34,200 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2000 | 33,475 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 32,710 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 26,650 tonnes | -18.5% |
| 2003 | 32,418 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 2004 | 36,277 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2005 | 34,310 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 35,901 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 32,446 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 42,935 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 2009 | 38,066 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2010 | 42,169 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 47,633 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 48,688 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 45,177 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 49,857 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 50,922 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 63,416 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 2017 | 59,634 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 80,072 tonnes | +34.3% |
| 2019 | 100,511 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 2020 | 120,949 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 2021 | 141,387 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 2022 | 161,826 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2023 | 182,264 tonnes | +12.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 182,264 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,224 tonnes, 148.9× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Australia's 182,264 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 287 tonnes, 635.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26,522 tonnes | 17,867 tonnes | 37,215 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 34,519 tonnes | 26,650 tonnes | 42,935 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 58,808 tonnes | 42,169 tonnes | 100,511 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 151,606 tonnes | 120,949 tonnes | 182,264 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use in Australia?
- Pesticide use in Australia was 182,264 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 pesticide use recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 182,264 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest pesticide use recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,867 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for pesticide use?
- Australia ranks 6th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 303.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 Pesticide 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
Total pesticide use measured in tonnes of pesticide consumption per year.