Nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia
Australia: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 2.15 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.15 million tonnes
Change on year
up 11.9%
World rank
11th
of 202 countries
All-time high
2.15 million tonnes
in 2023
All-time low
35,017 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia, 1961–2023
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 nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia is 2.15 million tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.9% on the previous year and up 76.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia peaked at 2.15 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 35,017 tonnes, in 1961.
Australia ranks 11th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 35,017 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 43,800 tonnes | +25.1% |
| 1963 | 70,200 tonnes | +60.3% |
| 1964 | 64,000 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1965 | 70,000 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1966 | 85,412 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1967 | 129,997 tonnes | +52.2% |
| 1968 | 140,386 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 125,413 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1970 | 123,381 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 124,239 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 166,556 tonnes | +34.1% |
| 1973 | 172,259 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 177,594 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 167,000 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 207,800 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1977 | 177,000 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 1978 | 215,000 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1979 | 245,000 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1980 | 248,000 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 250,000 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 258,000 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 305,000 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1984 | 344,000 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 340,000 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 332,500 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 363,100 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1988 | 392,600 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 440,300 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1990 | 439,400 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 462,300 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 488,200 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 565,400 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1994 | 583,200 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 671,300 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1996 | 824,600 tonnes | +22.8% |
| 1997 | 839,400 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 979,000 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1999 | 1.08 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 951,000 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 2001 | 1.03 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 972,266 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 932,911 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1.06 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 952,174 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2006 | 858,103 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 848,006 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 835,018 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 849,785 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 981,787 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 2011 | 1.10 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2012 | 1.12 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 1.22 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 1.40 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 2015 | 1.30 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 1.47 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2017 | 1.49 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 1.41 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 1.34 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 1.81 million tonnes | +35.0% |
| 2021 | 2.06 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 2022 | 1.92 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 2.15 million tonnes | +11.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2.15 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 83,582 tonnes, 25.7× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2.15 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21,697 tonnes, 99.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 84,914 tonnes | 35,017 tonnes | 140,386 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 177,583 tonnes | 123,381 tonnes | 245,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 327,350 tonnes | 248,000 tonnes | 440,300 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 693,480 tonnes | 439,400 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 928,979 tonnes | 835,018 tonnes | 1.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.29 million tonnes | 981,787 tonnes | 1.49 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.99 million tonnes | 1.81 million tonnes | 2.15 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More agriculture & rural data for Australia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0227 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,476 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5855 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1228 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Australia was 2.15 million 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 nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.15 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35,017 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Australia rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Australia ranks 11th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 Nitrogen fertilizer use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measures total nitrogen inputs, including synthetic fertilizers alongside organic inputs from manure and crop fixation. Measured in tonnes of nitrogen.