Pesticide use in Colombia
Colombia: Pesticide use was 19,419 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Pesticide use in Colombia, 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, pesticide use in Colombia stood at 19,419 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 75.2% on the previous year and down 64.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use in Colombia peaked at 117,881 tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 14,962 tonnes, in 1993.
That places Colombia 26th out of 211 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Pesticide use in Colombia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18,058 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 16,817 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1992 | 15,306 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1993 | 14,962 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 17,051 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1995 | 20,156 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1996 | 18,081 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 16,005 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 1998 | 60,687 tonnes | +279.2% |
| 1999 | 66,088 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2000 | 75,843 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 2001 | 85,515 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 2002 | 84,023 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 88,772 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 105,514 tonnes | +18.9% |
| 2005 | 117,881 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2006 | 98,329 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 2007 | 82,439 tonnes | -16.2% |
| 2008 | 48,539 tonnes | -41.1% |
| 2009 | 51,435 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 48,618 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 53,797 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2012 | 48,728 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 54,563 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2014 | 73,744 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 2015 | 33,689 tonnes | -54.3% |
| 2016 | 32,392 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 37,699 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 2018 | 37,773 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 36,711 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 39,324 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 78,231 tonnes | +98.9% |
| 2022 | 78,231 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 19,419 tonnes | -75.2% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 19,419 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,066 tonnes, 9.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 19,419 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,984 tonnes, 9.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pesticide use in Colombia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +279.2% | 16,005 tonnes | 60,687 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26,321 tonnes | 14,962 tonnes | 66,088 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 83,829 tonnes | 48,539 tonnes | 117,881 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,771 tonnes | 32,392 tonnes | 73,744 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 53,801 tonnes | 19,419 tonnes | 78,231 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More reference data data for Colombia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4113 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 61.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 94.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use in Colombia?
- Pesticide use in Colombia was 19,419 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 117,881 tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest pesticide use recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,962 tonnes in 1993.
- How does Colombia rank for pesticide use?
- Colombia ranks 26th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia 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.