Nitrogen fertilizer use in Botswana
Botswana: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 17,547 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Botswana, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 17,547 tonnes for nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.4% on the previous year and down 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Botswana peaked at 21,983 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 139 tonnes, in 1985.
Botswana ranks 116th of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,444 tonnes | 1,000 tonnes | 2,500 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,066 tonnes | 500 tonnes | 1,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 395.5 tonnes | 139 tonnes | 600 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,847 tonnes | 300 tonnes | 4,100 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,277 tonnes | 4,100 tonnes | 13,631 tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 13,874 tonnes | 5,589 tonnes | 21,983 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,044 tonnes | 13,085 tonnes | 17,547 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 354.96 million current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 1.8% (2025)
- Rural population 821,007 (2025)
- Rural population growth 0.1% (2025)
- Rural population 32.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.8% (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.8% (2025)
- Land under cereal production 60,588 hectares (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Botswana?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Botswana was 17,547 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 21,983 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 139 tonnes in 1985.
- How does Botswana rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Botswana ranks 116th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana 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 — 56 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.