Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran
Iran: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 903,185 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
903,185 tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
23rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
1.36 million tonnes
in 2006
All-time low
7,259 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran stood at 903,185 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran peaked at 1.36 million tonnes in 2006 and was at its lowest, 7,259 tonnes, in 1961.
Iran ranks 23rd of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7,259 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 7,695 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 12,722 tonnes | +65.3% |
| 1964 | 15,489 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1965 | 17,000 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 32,000 tonnes | +88.2% |
| 1967 | 46,000 tonnes | +43.8% |
| 1968 | 49,000 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1969 | 55,000 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1970 | 65,254 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1971 | 107,292 tonnes | +64.4% |
| 1972 | 123,799 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1973 | 194,080 tonnes | +56.8% |
| 1974 | 188,525 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 189,980 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 194,770 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 238,795 tonnes | +22.6% |
| 1978 | 176,745 tonnes | -26.0% |
| 1979 | 289,285 tonnes | +63.7% |
| 1980 | 300,185 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 402,130 tonnes | +34.0% |
| 1982 | 493,930 tonnes | +22.8% |
| 1983 | 596,584 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1984 | 489,527 tonnes | -17.9% |
| 1985 | 467,400 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 529,372 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1987 | 529,400 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 527,514 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 726,000 tonnes | +37.6% |
| 1990 | 558,100 tonnes | -23.1% |
| 1991 | 658,000 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1992 | 834,360 tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1993 | 555,000 tonnes | -33.5% |
| 1994 | 609,000 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 633,000 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 685,225 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 830,025 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1998 | 878,000 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 847,800 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 862,572 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 864,108 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 947,120 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 998,279 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 1.04 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 1.09 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 1.36 million tonnes | +24.4% |
| 2007 | 1.12 million tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2008 | 1.19 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 1.03 million tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2010 | 943,707 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 559,006 tonnes | -40.8% |
| 2012 | 670,332 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2013 | 626,029 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 701,510 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2015 | 564,053 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 2016 | 564,912 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 602,598 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 729,672 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 2019 | 814,771 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2020 | 903,185 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2021 | 903,185 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 903,185 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 903,185 tonnes | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 903,185 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54,228 tonnes, 16.7× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iran's 903,185 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29,329 tonnes, 30.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 26,907 tonnes | 7,259 tonnes | 55,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 176,852 tonnes | 65,254 tonnes | 289,285 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 506,204 tonnes | 300,185 tonnes | 726,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 708,851 tonnes | 555,000 tonnes | 878,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.05 million tonnes | 862,572 tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 677,659 tonnes | 559,006 tonnes | 943,707 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 903,185 tonnes | 903,185 tonnes | 903,185 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 20 Germany 1.04 million tonnes compare
- 21 Ukraine 993,599 tonnes compare
- 22 Uzbekistan 961,192 tonnes compare
- 24 United Kingdom 871,000 tonnes compare
- 25 Spain 773,011 tonnes compare
- 26 Philippines 653,342 tonnes compare
More agriculture & rural data for Iran
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -25.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1059 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 415.77 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6359 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2262 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 10.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 10.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 3.0% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iran was 903,185 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 1.36 million tonnes in 2006.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,259 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Iran rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Iran ranks 23rd out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.