Nitrogen fertilizer use in North Korea
North Korea: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 21,697 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in North Korea, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 21,697 tonnes for nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023.
The figure is up 413.9% on the previous year and down 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in North Korea peaked at 659,000 tonnes in 1991 and was at its lowest, 4,222 tonnes, in 2022.
That places North Korea 113th 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 84,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 104,000 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1963 | 108,000 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 110,000 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 115,000 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1966 | 121,000 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1967 | 130,000 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1968 | 132,000 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 152,000 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1970 | 205,000 tonnes | +34.9% |
| 1971 | 216,600 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 224,900 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 244,000 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1974 | 251,900 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 264,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 385,800 tonnes | +46.1% |
| 1977 | 442,800 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1978 | 535,000 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1979 | 540,000 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 550,000 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 564,100 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 564,100 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 582,800 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 597,000 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 623,000 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 605,000 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 602,000 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 634,000 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 644,000 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 655,400 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 659,000 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 652,500 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 636,000 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 300,000 tonnes | -52.8% |
| 1995 | 84,000 tonnes | -72.0% |
| 1996 | 72,400 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1997 | 149,300 tonnes | +106.2% |
| 1998 | 128,300 tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1999 | 152,000 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2000 | 165,000 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 186,400 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 2002 | 72,519 tonnes | -61.1% |
| 2003 | 50,958 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 99,277 tonnes | +94.8% |
| 2005 | 88,583 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 117,561 tonnes | +32.7% |
| 2007 | 81,730 tonnes | -30.5% |
| 2008 | 82,570 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 110,159 tonnes | +33.4% |
| 2010 | 136,843 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 2011 | 172,279 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 2012 | 126,156 tonnes | -26.8% |
| 2013 | 134,213 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 111,817 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 2015 | 93,593 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2016 | 128,052 tonnes | +36.8% |
| 2017 | 119,226 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 178,919 tonnes | +50.1% |
| 2019 | 68,804 tonnes | -61.5% |
| 2020 | 29,843 tonnes | -56.6% |
| 2021 | 19,379 tonnes | -35.1% |
| 2022 | 4,222 tonnes | -78.2% |
| 2023 | 21,697 tonnes | +413.9% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 21,697 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 14,884 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 21,697 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21,697 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +413.9% | 4,222 tonnes | 21,697 tonnes |
| 1997 | +106.2% | 72,400 tonnes | 149,300 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 117,333 tonnes | 84,000 tonnes | 152,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 331,000 tonnes | 205,000 tonnes | 540,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 596,600 tonnes | 550,000 tonnes | 644,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 348,890 tonnes | 72,400 tonnes | 659,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 105,476 tonnes | 50,958 tonnes | 186,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 126,990 tonnes | 68,804 tonnes | 178,919 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,785 tonnes | 4,222 tonnes | 29,843 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More agriculture & rural data for North Korea
- Rural population 9.52 million (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3581 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6454 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population growth -0.6% (2025)
- Rural population 35.8% (2025)
- Cereal production (metric tons), annual growth rate 2.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereal yield 3,610 kg per hectare (2024)
- Land under cereal production (hectares), annual growth rate 0.0436 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereal production (metric tons), per capita 0.1844 metric tons per person (2024)
- Milk per animal 2,342 kilograms per animal (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in North Korea?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in North Korea was 21,697 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 659,000 tonnes in 1991.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,222 tonnes in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- North Korea ranks 113th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.