Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia
Malaysia: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 398,131 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
398,131 tonnes
Change on year
up 12.1%
World rank
34th
of 202 countries
All-time high
726,951 tonnes
in 2008
All-time low
24,278 tonnes
in 1963
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia stood at 398,131 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 12.1% on the previous year and down 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia peaked at 726,951 tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 24,278 tonnes, in 1963.
That places Malaysia 34th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 26,195 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 27,089 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 24,278 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1964 | 31,687 tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1965 | 40,000 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1966 | 44,000 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1967 | 42,000 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1968 | 43,000 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 52,400 tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1970 | 66,080 tonnes | +26.1% |
| 1971 | 66,698 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 80,817 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1973 | 112,181 tonnes | +38.8% |
| 1974 | 68,878 tonnes | -38.6% |
| 1975 | 77,573 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 90,000 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1977 | 102,000 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1978 | 109,500 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1979 | 137,500 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1980 | 139,300 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 127,900 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 138,100 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 161,000 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1984 | 216,000 tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1985 | 215,000 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 198,900 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1987 | 208,600 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 237,100 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1989 | 273,100 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 262,100 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 254,700 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 294,900 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1993 | 301,000 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 287,000 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 286,000 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 255,000 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1997 | 344,000 tonnes | +34.9% |
| 1998 | 417,000 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1999 | 362,400 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 2000 | 348,588 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 331,917 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 417,622 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 2003 | 522,180 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2004 | 602,415 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 2005 | 663,718 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 649,549 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 665,261 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 726,951 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 487,281 tonnes | -33.0% |
| 2010 | 681,543 tonnes | +39.9% |
| 2011 | 706,061 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 720,551 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 555,304 tonnes | -22.9% |
| 2014 | 601,854 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 538,253 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 527,252 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 476,917 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 386,878 tonnes | -18.9% |
| 2019 | 278,962 tonnes | -27.9% |
| 2020 | 332,429 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 458,916 tonnes | +38.0% |
| 2022 | 355,251 tonnes | -22.6% |
| 2023 | 398,131 tonnes | +12.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 398,131 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54,228 tonnes, 7.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 398,131 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21,697 tonnes, 18.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 36,739 tonnes | 24,278 tonnes | 52,400 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 91,123 tonnes | 66,080 tonnes | 137,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 191,500 tonnes | 127,900 tonnes | 273,100 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 306,410 tonnes | 254,700 tonnes | 417,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 541,548 tonnes | 331,917 tonnes | 726,951 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 547,358 tonnes | 278,962 tonnes | 720,551 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 386,182 tonnes | 332,429 tonnes | 458,916 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More agriculture & rural data for Malaysia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0822 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,078 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.913 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2261 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 8.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Malaysia was 398,131 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 726,951 tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,278 tonnes in 1963.
- How does Malaysia rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Malaysia ranks 34th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.