Nitrogen fertilizer use in Kenya
Kenya: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 166,621 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
166,621 tonnes
Change on year
up 73.5%
World rank
57th
of 202 countries
All-time high
194,857 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
3,000 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 166,621 tonnes, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 73.5% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Kenya peaked at 194,857 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3,000 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Kenya 57th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 3,500 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1963 | 7,324 tonnes | +109.3% |
| 1964 | 10,332 tonnes | +41.1% |
| 1965 | 13,000 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 1966 | 11,787 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1967 | 13,000 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1968 | 10,800 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1969 | 16,000 tonnes | +48.1% |
| 1970 | 22,000 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 1971 | 18,500 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1972 | 18,496 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 20,370 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1974 | 19,400 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 21,882 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1976 | 22,417 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 25,284 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1978 | 25,416 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 20,100 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 1980 | 26,700 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 1981 | 37,000 tonnes | +38.6% |
| 1982 | 27,700 tonnes | -25.1% |
| 1983 | 30,000 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1984 | 34,700 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1985 | 48,500 tonnes | +39.8% |
| 1986 | 46,200 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 47,798 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 57,600 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1989 | 49,300 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1990 | 49,100 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 52,400 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 47,800 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1993 | 42,100 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1994 | 50,800 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1995 | 33,000 tonnes | -35.0% |
| 1996 | 63,000 tonnes | +90.9% |
| 1997 | 51,000 tonnes | -19.0% |
| 1998 | 53,000 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 54,200 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 69,911 tonnes | +29.0% |
| 2001 | 80,014 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 62,724 tonnes | -21.6% |
| 2003 | 68,061 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 64,724 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 72,514 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2006 | 77,667 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 79,441 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 73,071 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 77,794 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 78,916 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 102,080 tonnes | +29.4% |
| 2012 | 125,244 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 2013 | 148,408 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2014 | 122,181 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 2015 | 95,954 tonnes | -21.5% |
| 2016 | 124,369 tonnes | +29.6% |
| 2017 | 160,389 tonnes | +29.0% |
| 2018 | 118,814 tonnes | -25.9% |
| 2019 | 139,554 tonnes | +17.5% |
| 2020 | 194,857 tonnes | +39.6% |
| 2021 | 171,766 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2022 | 96,044 tonnes | -44.1% |
| 2023 | 166,621 tonnes | +73.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 166,621 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47,552 tonnes, 3.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 166,621 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 11.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,860 tonnes | 3,000 tonnes | 16,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 21,386 tonnes | 18,496 tonnes | 25,416 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,550 tonnes | 26,700 tonnes | 57,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 49,640 tonnes | 33,000 tonnes | 63,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 72,592 tonnes | 62,724 tonnes | 80,014 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 121,591 tonnes | 78,916 tonnes | 160,389 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 157,322 tonnes | 96,044 tonnes | 194,857 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Kenya?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Kenya was 166,621 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 194,857 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,000 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Kenya ranks 57th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.