Environment & Climate

Study estimates nearly half of global farmers suffer acute pesticide poisoning each year

Research published in Frontiers in Public Health estimates over 400 million poisonings annually, predominantly in southern Asia and parts of Africa.

Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 06:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

A study commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network estimates that 402 million to 433 million agricultural workers experience unintentional acute pesticide poisoning annually, representing about 46% of the global farming population.
The analysis calculated approximately 11,000 annual fatalities linked to pesticide poisoning, with almost 60% of deaths occurring in India.
Researchers and advocacy organizations are calling for the phaseout of highly hazardous chemicals and the creation of standardized international surveillance systems.
The study examined only acute, short-term poisonings in adults, leaving the full extent of chronic exposure and risks to agricultural child laborers unmeasured.

Using data from 2006 to 2023, the study estimates between 402 million and 433 million annual cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning among a global agricultural workforce of 934 million.[The Guardian]
An estimated 11,000 people die each year from acute pesticide poisoning, with nearly 60% of fatalities reported in India.[The Guardian]
Southern Asia recorded the highest estimated total volume of poisonings, while Burkina Faso had the highest national incidence rate at roughly 84% of its agricultural workforce.[The Guardian]
Global pesticide usage reached 3.8 million tonnes in 2023, representing a twofold increase since 1990.[The Guardian]

The full health burden remains unquantified because the study excluded long-term chronic conditions and did not assess impacts on an estimated 84 million child agricultural workers.[The Guardian]
The authors noted that baseline reporting and surveillance of pesticide poisoning globally remain inconsistent and inadequate.[The Guardian]