A study drawing on data from 2006-2023 estimates that almost half of the world's farmers are poisoned by pesticides every year, causing an estimated 11,000 deaths annually, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- An estimated 402-433 million cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning occur among farmers and farm workers each year.
- Pesticide poisoning is estimated to kill 11,000 people annually.
- India accounts for nearly 60% of the fatalities.
- The study used publicly available data from 2006 to 2023.
- The research was commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network.
Almost half of the world’s farmers are poisoned by pesticides every single year, according to a study reported by the Guardian. The findings point to a widespread health risk affecting agricultural workers across the globe.
The study, commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network, drew on publicly available data covering the period from 2006 to 2023. Based on that data, researchers arrived at an estimated 402 to 433 million cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning among farmers and farm workers each year.
Beyond the sheer number of poisonings, the research found that pesticide exposure is linked to significant loss of life. The study estimates that pesticide poisoning kills 11,000 people each year.
According to the Guardian, India accounts for nearly 60% of those fatalities, underscoring a heavily concentrated burden in one country even as the poisoning cases themselves are described as a worldwide problem.
The scale of the estimates reflects the researchers’ analysis of long-running data rather than a single year’s reporting, giving a picture of a persistent annual pattern of acute poisoning tied to agricultural pesticide use.
Why it matters
Pesticides are central to modern food production, but the study suggests their routine use carries a major and ongoing human health cost for the workers who apply them. With hundreds of millions of poisonings and thousands of deaths estimated each year, the findings raise questions about worker safety, regulation and the concentration of harm in certain countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many farmers are poisoned by pesticides each year?
The study estimates 402 to 433 million cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning among farmers and farm workers annually, which the reporting describes as almost half of the world's farmers.
How many people die from pesticide poisoning annually?
According to the study, pesticide poisoning kills an estimated 11,000 people each year.
Which country has the most pesticide poisoning deaths?
India accounts for nearly 60% of the fatalities, according to the Guardian's report on the study.