Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nepal
Nepal: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 79,991 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 79,991 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Nepal peaked at 132,216 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 133 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Nepal 80th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 133 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 407 tonnes | +206.0% |
| 1963 | 600 tonnes | +47.4% |
| 1964 | 800 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1965 | 1,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1966 | 2,109 tonnes | +110.9% |
| 1967 | 1,805 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1968 | 2,322 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1969 | 3,347 tonnes | +44.1% |
| 1970 | 4,091 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1971 | 5,554 tonnes | +35.8% |
| 1972 | 7,713 tonnes | +38.9% |
| 1973 | 9,002 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1974 | 8,961 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 8,421 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 10,687 tonnes | +26.9% |
| 1977 | 13,012 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1978 | 13,746 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 15,479 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1980 | 16,768 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1981 | 17,976 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1982 | 22,882 tonnes | +27.3% |
| 1983 | 28,058 tonnes | +22.6% |
| 1984 | 31,656 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 31,699 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 32,899 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 38,113 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1988 | 39,801 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 49,274 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1990 | 51,837 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 57,000 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1992 | 59,400 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 55,259 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 66,400 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1995 | 70,000 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 75,000 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1997 | 77,400 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 87,400 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1999 | 62,000 tonnes | -29.1% |
| 2000 | 51,771 tonnes | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 47,204 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2002 | 21,838 tonnes | -53.7% |
| 2003 | 5,465 tonnes | -75.0% |
| 2004 | 8,118 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 2005 | 2,856 tonnes | -64.8% |
| 2006 | 8,781 tonnes | +207.5% |
| 2007 | 1,939 tonnes | -77.9% |
| 2008 | 2,790 tonnes | +43.9% |
| 2009 | 28,331 tonnes | +915.4% |
| 2010 | 43,148 tonnes | +52.3% |
| 2011 | 54,769 tonnes | +26.9% |
| 2012 | 45,950 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 2013 | 78,287 tonnes | +70.4% |
| 2014 | 96,718 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 2015 | 105,798 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 105,723 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 91,634 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2018 | 127,251 tonnes | +38.9% |
| 2019 | 121,486 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 132,216 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 128,960 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 79,991 tonnes | -38.0% |
| 2023 | 79,991 tonnes | +0.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 79,991 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47,552 tonnes, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 79,991 tonnes is below the median for South Asia, which is 99,610 tonnes, 80% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +915.4% | 2,790 tonnes | 28,331 tonnes |
| 2006 | +207.5% | 2,856 tonnes | 8,781 tonnes |
| 1962 | +206.0% | 133 tonnes | 407 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,391 tonnes | 133 tonnes | 3,347 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 9,667 tonnes | 4,091 tonnes | 15,479 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 30,913 tonnes | 16,768 tonnes | 49,274 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 66,170 tonnes | 51,837 tonnes | 87,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 17,909 tonnes | 1,939 tonnes | 51,771 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 87,076 tonnes | 43,148 tonnes | 127,251 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 105,290 tonnes | 79,991 tonnes | 132,216 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 77 Cote d'Ivoire 85,600 tonnes compare
- 78 Ecuador 83,227 tonnes compare
- 79 Latvia 80,316 tonnes compare
- 81 Ghana 78,895 tonnes compare
- 82 Tajikistan 75,231 tonnes compare
- 83 Kazakhstan 70,400 tonnes compare
More agriculture & rural data for Nepal
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 331.1 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7937 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.33 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Nepal?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nepal was 79,991 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 132,216 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 133 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Nepal rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Nepal ranks 80th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.