Nitrogen fertilizer use in Kenya
Kenya: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 166,621 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
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 56th out of 201 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.
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 31.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 23.2% (2025)
- Rural population 39.00 million (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.5% (2025)
- Rural population 67.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Land under cereal production 2.93 million hectares (2023)
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 56th out of 201 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.