Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi
Malawi: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 273,988 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 273,988 tonnes for nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 332.1% on the previous year and up 366.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi peaked at 273,988 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,300 tonnes, in 1962.
Malawi ranks 39th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,600 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 2,300 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 1963 | 2,300 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 3,000 tonnes | +30.4% |
| 1965 | 3,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 4,000 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1968 | 5,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1969 | 4,987 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 8,593 tonnes | +72.3% |
| 1971 | 10,302 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1972 | 9,709 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1973 | 12,442 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 1974 | 7,453 tonnes | -40.1% |
| 1975 | 12,888 tonnes | +72.9% |
| 1976 | 18,887 tonnes | +46.5% |
| 1977 | 12,832 tonnes | -32.1% |
| 1978 | 19,563 tonnes | +52.5% |
| 1979 | 14,449 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 1980 | 22,800 tonnes | +57.8% |
| 1981 | 25,733 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1982 | 24,200 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 23,116 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 23,603 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 15,931 tonnes | -32.5% |
| 1986 | 22,715 tonnes | +42.6% |
| 1987 | 29,847 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 1988 | 27,201 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1989 | 30,300 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1990 | 30,000 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 46,000 tonnes | +53.3% |
| 1992 | 51,800 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1993 | 48,000 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1994 | 9,060 tonnes | -81.1% |
| 1995 | 28,202 tonnes | +211.3% |
| 1996 | 37,900 tonnes | +34.4% |
| 1997 | 41,200 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 34,800 tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 30,000 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2000 | 34,588 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2001 | 16,781 tonnes | -51.5% |
| 2002 | 60,083 tonnes | +258.0% |
| 2003 | 60,989 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 71,630 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 2005 | 66,172 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 82,959 tonnes | +25.4% |
| 2007 | 84,330 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 98,191 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 72,041 tonnes | -26.6% |
| 2010 | 96,533 tonnes | +34.0% |
| 2011 | 84,938 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 2012 | 58,424 tonnes | -31.2% |
| 2013 | 58,785 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 118,305 tonnes | +101.3% |
| 2015 | 109,427 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 63,280 tonnes | -42.2% |
| 2017 | 86,463 tonnes | +36.6% |
| 2018 | 96,440 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 2019 | 76,294 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 2020 | 126,914 tonnes | +66.3% |
| 2021 | 103,589 tonnes | -18.4% |
| 2022 | 63,405 tonnes | -38.8% |
| 2023 | 273,988 tonnes | +332.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 273,988 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 14,884 tonnes, 18.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 273,988 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 18.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi 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 | +332.1% | 63,405 tonnes | 273,988 tonnes |
| 2002 | +258.0% | 16,781 tonnes | 60,083 tonnes |
| 1995 | +211.3% | 9,060 tonnes | 28,202 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3,354 tonnes | 2,300 tonnes | 5,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 12,712 tonnes | 7,453 tonnes | 19,563 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 24,545 tonnes | 15,931 tonnes | 30,300 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 35,696 tonnes | 9,060 tonnes | 51,800 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 64,776 tonnes | 16,781 tonnes | 98,191 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 84,889 tonnes | 58,424 tonnes | 118,305 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 141,974 tonnes | 63,405 tonnes | 273,988 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malawi was 273,988 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 273,988 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,300 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Malawi rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Malawi ranks 39th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 366.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.