Pesticide use in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Pesticide use was 16,983 tonnes in 2023. ▼ Falling
Pesticide 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
The most recent figure for pesticide use in United Kingdom is 16,983 tonnes, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use in United Kingdom peaked at 35,579 tonnes in 1996 and was at its lowest, 14,794 tonnes, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom 31st out of 211 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Pesticide use in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 29,517 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 29,022 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 31,077 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 32,387 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 33,929 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 33,743 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 35,579 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 35,490 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 35,422 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 35,537 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 33,031 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 32,893 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 30,995 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 30,754 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 31,224 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 31,415 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 22,588 tonnes | -28.1% |
| 2007 | 22,332 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 21,597 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 21,324 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 16,771 tonnes | -21.4% |
| 2011 | 24,427 tonnes | +45.7% |
| 2012 | 20,243 tonnes | -17.1% |
| 2013 | 16,601 tonnes | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 22,848 tonnes | +37.6% |
| 2015 | 21,446 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 18,250 tonnes | -14.9% |
| 2017 | 18,525 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 18,129 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 18,993 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 15,023 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 2021 | 14,794 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 16,983 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 2023 | 16,983 tonnes | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 16,983 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,224 tonnes, 13.9× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 16,983 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,830 tonnes, 6.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pesticide 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 | +45.7% | 16,771 tonnes | 24,427 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33,170 tonnes | 29,022 tonnes | 35,579 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,815 tonnes | 21,324 tonnes | 33,031 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,623 tonnes | 16,601 tonnes | 24,427 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,946 tonnes | 14,794 tonnes | 16,983 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 pesticide use in United Kingdom?
- Pesticide use in United Kingdom was 16,983 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 35,579 tonnes in 1996.
- What is the lowest pesticide use recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,794 tonnes in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for pesticide use?
- United Kingdom ranks 31st out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 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.