Pesticide use in Ecuador
Ecuador: Pesticide use was 35,220 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Pesticide use in Ecuador, 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 Ecuador stood at 35,220 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 11.7% on the previous year and up 444.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use in Ecuador peaked at 44,565 tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,302 tonnes, in 2002.
That places Ecuador 21st 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.
Pesticide use in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,537 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 2,377 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 2,012 tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1993 | 1,844 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1994 | 2,670 tonnes | +44.8% |
| 1995 | 2,658 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 2,407 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1997 | 7,612 tonnes | +216.2% |
| 1998 | 21,500 tonnes | +182.4% |
| 1999 | 14,216 tonnes | -33.9% |
| 2000 | 17,948 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 2001 | 7,344 tonnes | -59.1% |
| 2002 | 1,302 tonnes | -82.3% |
| 2003 | 30,635 tonnes | +2252.9% |
| 2004 | 29,800 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 18,391 tonnes | -38.3% |
| 2006 | 7,953 tonnes | -56.8% |
| 2007 | 14,156 tonnes | +78.0% |
| 2008 | 15,396 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 9,667 tonnes | -37.2% |
| 2010 | 31,637 tonnes | +227.3% |
| 2011 | 17,529 tonnes | -44.6% |
| 2012 | 11,470 tonnes | -34.6% |
| 2013 | 6,472 tonnes | -43.6% |
| 2014 | 33,574 tonnes | +418.8% |
| 2015 | 44,565 tonnes | +32.7% |
| 2016 | 39,240 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2017 | 37,808 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 37,408 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 34,081 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 28,018 tonnes | -17.8% |
| 2021 | 33,448 tonnes | +19.4% |
| 2022 | 31,534 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 35,220 tonnes | +11.7% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 35,220 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,066 tonnes, 17.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 35,220 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,984 tonnes, 17.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pesticide use in Ecuador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +2252.9% | 1,302 tonnes | 30,635 tonnes |
| 2014 | +418.8% | 6,472 tonnes | 33,574 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5,983 tonnes | 1,844 tonnes | 21,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 15,259 tonnes | 1,302 tonnes | 30,635 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,378 tonnes | 6,472 tonnes | 44,565 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,055 tonnes | 28,018 tonnes | 35,220 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More reference data data for Ecuador
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1826 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9943 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use in Ecuador?
- Pesticide use in Ecuador was 35,220 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 44,565 tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest pesticide use recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,302 tonnes in 2002.
- How does Ecuador rank for pesticide use?
- Ecuador ranks 21st out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 444.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.