Nitrogen fertilizer use in Libya
Libya: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 13,700 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
13,700 tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
127th
of 202 countries
All-time high
43,600 tonnes
in 1999
All-time low
1,471 tonnes
in 1964
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Libya, 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 Libya is 13,700 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 56.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Libya peaked at 43,600 tonnes in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1,471 tonnes, in 1964.
That places Libya 127th 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 Libya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,500 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 2,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1963 | 1,579 tonnes | -21.1% |
| 1964 | 1,471 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1965 | 1,707 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1966 | 2,710 tonnes | +58.8% |
| 1967 | 3,356 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1968 | 4,073 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1969 | 3,294 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1970 | 4,511 tonnes | +36.9% |
| 1971 | 8,000 tonnes | +77.3% |
| 1972 | 7,000 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 1973 | 7,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 10,100 tonnes | +44.3% |
| 1975 | 15,000 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 1976 | 13,100 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 16,700 tonnes | +27.5% |
| 1978 | 13,800 tonnes | -17.4% |
| 1979 | 22,540 tonnes | +63.3% |
| 1980 | 18,302 tonnes | -18.8% |
| 1981 | 27,224 tonnes | +48.7% |
| 1982 | 35,200 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1983 | 33,900 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 31,900 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 27,800 tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1986 | 31,700 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1987 | 37,800 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1988 | 32,500 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 1989 | 30,000 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 35,000 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1991 | 35,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 26,700 tonnes | -23.7% |
| 1993 | 34,600 tonnes | +29.6% |
| 1994 | 24,400 tonnes | -29.5% |
| 1995 | 30,000 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1996 | 16,600 tonnes | -44.7% |
| 1997 | 17,500 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 20,000 tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1999 | 43,600 tonnes | +118.0% |
| 2000 | 31,700 tonnes | -27.3% |
| 2001 | 20,700 tonnes | -34.7% |
| 2002 | 30,800 tonnes | +48.8% |
| 2003 | 23,800 tonnes | -22.7% |
| 2004 | 29,600 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 2005 | 32,000 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 32,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 32,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 32,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 32,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 32,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 31,900 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 32,400 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 31,200 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 17,500 tonnes | -43.9% |
| 2015 | 14,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2016 | 15,700 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 25,800 tonnes | +64.3% |
| 2018 | 15,100 tonnes | -41.5% |
| 2019 | 14,500 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 13,700 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 13,700 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 13,700 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13,700 tonnes | +0.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 13,700 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54,228 tonnes, 25% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Libya's 13,700 tonnes is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29,329 tonnes, 47% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,521 tonnes | 1,471 tonnes | 4,073 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 11,775 tonnes | 4,511 tonnes | 22,540 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 30,633 tonnes | 18,302 tonnes | 37,800 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 28,340 tonnes | 16,600 tonnes | 43,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 29,660 tonnes | 20,700 tonnes | 32,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 23,010 tonnes | 14,000 tonnes | 32,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,700 tonnes | 13,700 tonnes | 13,700 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More agriculture & rural data for Libya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -37.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.015 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 96.79 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1209 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2019)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Libya?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Libya was 13,700 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 43,600 tonnes in 1999.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,471 tonnes in 1964.
- How does Libya rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Libya ranks 127th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya 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.