Developed Countries (including countries with economies in transition)

In 1960, the developed countries, Europe, the USSR, North America, Oceania, South Africa and Japan, accounted for 88 % of the world fertilizer consumption. By 2001 their share had fallen to 37%, although of a much larger total. Major consuming developed countries/regions were the United States (with a 37% share of consumption in developed countries) and West Europe (32%).

From 1980 to 1989 fertilizer consumption in the developed countries tended to stabilize. Population growth had leveled off, almost everyone was adequately fed, and world agricultural exports had stagnated due to economic problems in the importing countries. Then, between 1989 and 1994, fertilizer consumption in developed countries fell from around 84 Mt nutrients to 52 Mt nutrients. In the formerly centrally planned economy countries of Central Europe and the FSU, consumption fell by 70%. Consumption also fell in West Europe, although to a much lesser extent. Phosphate and potash consumption were affected more seriously than nitrogen.

Developing Countries

Between 1999 and 2001, annual fertilizer consumption in the developing countries averaged some 87 Mt nutrients or 63% of the world total, compared with 12% in 1960. The increase was particularly substantial in the case of nitrogen. It was in 1991/92 that fertilizer consumption in developing countries for the first time exceeded that of the developed countries. Major consuming countries are China (with a 40% share of consumption in developing countries), followed by India (20%) and Brazil (8%).

In many developing countries fertilizer application has become unbalanced i.e. too much nitrogen in relation to the other nutrients, especially in Asia. In other countries the "mining" of soil nutrients is severe, and falling yields have been observed, as nutrients removed by the crops are not replaced. This problem is particularly serious in sub-Saharan Africa.