Pesticide use reached an estimated 3.70 million tonnes of active ingredients in world agriculture in 2022. The figures below distinguish active ingredients from formulated trade products, and planted or bearing acreage from treated-acre applications.
Key Pesticide Use Statistics
The most broadly useful pesticide use statistics are:
- 3.70 million tonnes of agricultural pesticide active ingredients were used worldwide in 2022.
- Global agricultural pesticide use increased 4% from 2021 to 2022 worldwide.
- Global agricultural pesticide use increased 13% from 2012 to 2022 worldwide.
- Pesticide use per cropland area increased 94% worldwide from 1990 to 2022.
- Pesticide use per person increased 35% worldwide from 1990 to 2022.
- European agricultural pesticide use fell 7% from 2012 to 2022.
- Pesticide exports totaled about 6.9 million tonnes of formulated products worldwide in 2022.
- The value of global pesticide exports was USD 48.8 billion in 2022.
- More than 1.6 billion kg of glyphosate active ingredient was applied in the United States from 1974 through 2014.
- Estimated global glyphosate use totaled 8.6 billion kg from 1974 through 2014.
- Global glyphosate use rose almost 15-fold from 1994 to 2014, following the 1996 introduction of glyphosate-tolerant crops.
- U.S. agricultural glyphosate applications reached 36 million kg in 2000.
- Agriculture represented about 90% of U.S. glyphosate use in 2010.
- California almond active-ingredient pounds fell from 34 million in 2021 to 31 million in 2022.
- California pistachio treated acres rose from 7.0 million in 2021 to 7.4 million in 2022.
- California wine-grape active-ingredient pounds fell from 25.7 million in 2021 to 25.5 million in 2022.
Contents
- Global pesticide use statistics and long-term trends
- Pesticide use intensity and regional patterns
- Glyphosate use statistics in the United States and worldwide
- California pesticide use statistics by crop and year
- California active ingredients and treated-acre data
- Pesticide use statistics for fruits, nuts and vegetables
Global Pesticide Use Statistics and Long-Term Trends
FAO reports that world agricultural pesticide use was an estimated 3.70 million tonnes of active ingredients in 2022. The same series shows a 4% increase from 2021 to 2022 and a 13% increase over the decade from 2012 to 2022. FAO, “Pesticides use and trade. 1990–2022”
The Americas rose from 1.71 million tonnes in 2021 to 1.89 million tonnes in 2022. These are regional agricultural estimates, rather than measurements of household, industrial or other nonagricultural use.
| Global or regional measure | Period | Reported result |
|---|---|---|
| World agricultural active ingredients | 2022 | 3.70 million tonnes |
| World agricultural use change | 2021–2022 | +4% |
| World agricultural use change | 2012–2022 | +13% |
| Americas agricultural use | 2021–2022 | 1.71 to 1.89 million tonnes |
Trade statistics use a different unit from use statistics. In 2022, pesticide exports totaled about 6.9 million tonnes of formulated products and were valued at USD 48.8 billion; Asia exported 3.5 million tonnes valued at USD 21.7 billion.
Formulated-product trade volume and trade value are not interchangeable with active-ingredient use or agricultural spending.
Pesticide Use Intensity Statistics and Regional Patterns
Intensity measures show how pesticide use changes relative to a denominator. FAO reports that pesticide use per cropland area increased 94% worldwide from 1990 to 2022, while use per value of agricultural production increased 5% and use per person increased 35% over the same period.
Per-person use is a population ratio, not a measure of individual exposure.
Europe moved differently from the global pattern: pesticide use fell 5% from 1990 to 2022 and 7% from 2012 to 2022. The European series may include sales proxies, so its change should be read as a regional estimate rather than a direct application census.
| Intensity or regional measure | Period | Result |
|---|---|---|
| World use per cropland area | 1990–2022 | +94% |
| World use per agricultural production value | 1990–2022 | +5% |
| World use per person | 1990–2022 | +35% |
| European pesticide use | 1990–2022 | −5% |
| European pesticide use | 2012–2022 | −7% |
FAOSTAT’s pesticide-use domain covers 221 countries and territories. FAO collects national use data from about 200 countries through its questionnaire, but some records rely on official complementary sources or proxies such as sales and imports, so reporting and imputation vary by region. FAOSTAT Pesticides Use dataset and metadata
For four reporting areas in Oceania, the median insecticide-biopesticide share of total insecticide use was 44% in available data through 2022. Because that median covers only four island countries and territories, it is not a region-wide estimate for all of Oceania.
Glyphosate Use Statistics in the United States and Worldwide
A peer-reviewed reconstruction estimated more than 1.6 billion kg of glyphosate active ingredient applied in the United States across all uses from 1974 through 2014. The study estimated 8.6 billion kg globally during the same period, with the United States representing 19% of the reconstructed global total. “Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally”
The study estimated that global glyphosate use rose almost 15-fold from 1994 to 2014, a period following the introduction of glyphosate-tolerant crops in 1996. This is an association with the adoption period, not a randomized causal estimate.
U.S. agricultural applications reached an estimated 36 million kg in 2000. Agriculture accounted for 80% of U.S. glyphosate use in 2000 and about 90% in 2010; those shares apply to glyphosate, not to all pesticides.
| U.S. agricultural glyphosate measure | Period | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural use | 1974 | 0.36 million kg |
| Agricultural use | 2000 | 36 million kg |
| Agricultural use | 2014 | 113.4 million kg |
| Agriculture’s share of U.S. glyphosate use | 2000 | 80% |
| Agriculture’s share of U.S. glyphosate use | 2010 | About 90% |
The same integrated historical dataset estimated that U.S. farmers applied 1.37 billion kg of glyphosate in agriculture from 1974 through 2014. These are reconstructed historical estimates from multiple datasets, not a current official total.
California Pesticide Use Statistics by Crop and Year
California’s 2022 report provides crop-level comparisons for 2021 and 2022. Active-ingredient pounds, planted or bearing acreage, and treated acres measure different things, so a change in one should not be interpreted as a matching change in the others. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, “Pesticide Use Annual Report 2022 Data Summary”
| California crop | Acreage measure, 2021→2022 | AI pounds, 2021→2022 | Treated acres, 2021→2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almonds | — | 34→31 million | 24→22 million |
| Carrots | 58.5→53.7 thousand planted acres | 4.84→4.83 million | 435→462 thousand |
| Cotton | 114→134 thousand planted acres | 1.5→1.7 million | 3.2→3.7 million |
| Oranges | 141→140 thousand bearing acres | 11→10 million | 2.56→2.50 million |
| Pistachios | 409→428 thousand bearing acres | 6.3→6.4 million | 7.0→7.4 million |
| Processing tomatoes | 230→231 thousand planted acres | 10.0→9.7 million | 2.7→2.9 million |
| Walnuts | 390→400 thousand bearing acres | 5.4→5.1 million | 4.9→4.5 million |
| Wine grapes | 575→575 thousand bearing acres | 25.7→25.5 million | 9.6→9.5 million |
The crop comparisons show why pesticide statistics need definitions. California carrot planted acreage fell while treated acres rose, and processing-tomato planted acreage rose slightly while active-ingredient pounds fell and treated acres increased.
In the same report, almond active-ingredient pounds fell from 34 million to 31 million, while almond treated acres fell from 24 million to 22 million between 2021 and 2022. Cotton moved upward on all three reported measures: planted acreage rose from 114 thousand to 134 thousand acres, active-ingredient pounds from 1.5 million to 1.7 million, and treated acres from 3.2 million to 3.7 million.
California Active Ingredients and Treated-Acre Data
California’s active-ingredient tables provide more detail than crop totals. In 2022, glyphosate was applied to 1,491,608 almond acres, abamectin to 1,089,580 almond acres, and oil products to 1,079,361 almond acres; oil is reported as a grouped active-ingredient category.
For cotton in 2022, glyphosate was applied to 224,444 acres, flonicamid to 164,258 acres, and thidiazuron to 162,333 acres. These are active-ingredient-specific treated-acre figures, and treated acres can include repeat applications.
Orange applications in 2022 were recorded by pounds for several active ingredients. Oil products accounted for 4,873,940 pounds, copper for 523,551 pounds, and kaolin clay for 216,297 pounds; the California report classifies kaolin clay as a fungicide/insecticide entry.
| California crop and 2022 measure | Reported amount |
|---|---|
| Almond acres treated with glyphosate | 1,491,608 acres |
| Almond acres treated with abamectin | 1,089,580 acres |
| Almond acres treated with oil products | 1,079,361 acres |
| Cotton acres treated with glyphosate | 224,444 acres |
| Cotton acres treated with flonicamid | 164,258 acres |
| Cotton acres treated with thidiazuron | 162,333 acres |
| Orange pounds of oil products | 4,873,940 pounds |
| Orange pounds of copper | 523,551 pounds |
| Orange pounds of kaolin clay | 216,297 pounds |
These measures should not be added together to create a unique-acre total. A single physical acre may appear in multiple active-ingredient or application records during the reporting year.
Pesticide Use Statistics for Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables
The California crop series includes tree nuts, fruit, grapes and vegetables, making it useful for comparing production categories while keeping their acreage definitions separate. Bearing acreage applies to mature producing orchards or vineyards, planted acreage applies to crop area, and treated acres count applications.
Pistachio bearing acreage rose from 409 thousand acres in 2021 to 428 thousand in 2022, while active-ingredient pounds rose from 6.3 million to 6.4 million and treated acres from 7.0 million to 7.4 million. Walnut bearing acreage rose from 390 thousand to 400 thousand acres, but active-ingredient pounds fell from 5.4 million to 5.1 million and treated acres from 4.9 million to 4.5 million.
Wine-grape bearing acreage remained 575 thousand acres in both years. Wine-grape active-ingredient pounds fell from 25.7 million to 25.5 million, and treated acres fell from 9.6 million to 9.5 million.
Oranges also declined across the reported measures: bearing acreage fell from 141 thousand to 140 thousand acres, active-ingredient pounds from 11 million to 10 million, and treated acres from 2.56 million to 2.50 million. Carrots provide a different pattern, with planted acreage falling from 58.5 thousand to 53.7 thousand acres, active-ingredient pounds edging from 4.84 million to 4.83 million, and treated acres rising from 435 thousand to 462 thousand.
The broadest interpretation is therefore the safest: pesticide use statistics can describe mass, intensity, crop participation, trade, active ingredients or applications, but each statistic answers a different question. FAO’s global totals combine reported and modeled national data, the glyphosate study reconstructs historical use, and California’s treated-acre totals can exceed physical acreage because applications may repeat.