Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iraq
Iraq: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 169,729 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
169,729 tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
56th
of 202 countries
All-time high
507,200 tonnes
in 2002
All-time low
1,000 tonnes
in 1962
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iraq, 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 Iraq is 169,729 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Iraq peaked at 507,200 tonnes in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1,000 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Iraq 56th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iraq, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,040 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,000 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 2,027 tonnes | +102.7% |
| 1964 | 2,271 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1965 | 2,622 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1966 | 4,750 tonnes | +81.2% |
| 1967 | 6,395 tonnes | +34.6% |
| 1968 | 8,257 tonnes | +29.1% |
| 1969 | 10,152 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1970 | 12,000 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1971 | 13,469 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1972 | 15,000 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1973 | 20,139 tonnes | +34.3% |
| 1974 | 27,317 tonnes | +35.6% |
| 1975 | 25,000 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1976 | 35,000 tonnes | +40.0% |
| 1977 | 45,000 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1978 | 43,388 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 74,200 tonnes | +71.0% |
| 1980 | 64,500 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 1981 | 63,600 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 64,700 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 54,300 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 1984 | 109,800 tonnes | +102.2% |
| 1985 | 120,000 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1986 | 131,490 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 148,500 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1988 | 164,600 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 138,425 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1990 | 130,000 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 95,000 tonnes | -26.9% |
| 1992 | 130,000 tonnes | +36.8% |
| 1993 | 226,000 tonnes | +73.8% |
| 1994 | 238,000 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 225,000 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 240,500 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 242,700 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 251,200 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 254,700 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 250,500 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 502,000 tonnes | +100.4% |
| 2002 | 507,200 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 45,200 tonnes | -91.1% |
| 2004 | 102,714 tonnes | +127.2% |
| 2005 | 153,880 tonnes | +49.8% |
| 2006 | 167,020 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2007 | 126,420 tonnes | -24.3% |
| 2008 | 164,120 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 2009 | 171,846 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 107,980 tonnes | -37.2% |
| 2011 | 138,340 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 2012 | 158,685 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 159,833 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 80,172 tonnes | -49.8% |
| 2015 | 63,237 tonnes | -21.1% |
| 2016 | 104,472 tonnes | +65.2% |
| 2017 | 180,938 tonnes | +73.2% |
| 2018 | 173,014 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 180,859 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 193,672 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 169,729 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2022 | 169,729 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 169,729 tonnes | +0.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 169,729 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54,228 tonnes, 3.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 169,729 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29,329 tonnes, 5.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4,279 tonnes | 1,000 tonnes | 10,152 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 31,051 tonnes | 12,000 tonnes | 74,200 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 105,992 tonnes | 54,300 tonnes | 164,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 203,310 tonnes | 95,000 tonnes | 254,700 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 219,090 tonnes | 45,200 tonnes | 507,200 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 134,753 tonnes | 63,237 tonnes | 180,938 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 175,715 tonnes | 169,729 tonnes | 193,672 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More agriculture & rural data for Iraq
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -8.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0341 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 184.67 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3006 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2016)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.1% (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Iraq?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Iraq was 169,729 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 507,200 tonnes in 2002.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Iraq rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Iraq ranks 56th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.