Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nigeria
Nigeria: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 87,804 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
87,804 tonnes
Change on year
down 28.1%
World rank
75th
of 202 countries
All-time high
591,628 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
371 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nigeria, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 87,804 tonnes for nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023.
That represents a change of down 28.1% on the previous year and down 67.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Nigeria peaked at 591,628 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 371 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Nigeria 75th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 371 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 401 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 500 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1964 | 1,100 tonnes | +120.0% |
| 1965 | 2,000 tonnes | +81.8% |
| 1966 | 4,600 tonnes | +130.0% |
| 1967 | 4,000 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1968 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3,425 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1970 | 2,572 tonnes | -24.9% |
| 1971 | 3,588 tonnes | +39.5% |
| 1972 | 9,149 tonnes | +155.0% |
| 1973 | 4,700 tonnes | -48.6% |
| 1974 | 13,200 tonnes | +180.9% |
| 1975 | 30,200 tonnes | +128.8% |
| 1976 | 35,000 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1977 | 35,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 35,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 62,400 tonnes | +78.3% |
| 1980 | 92,200 tonnes | +47.8% |
| 1981 | 96,700 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 103,000 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 120,600 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1984 | 120,200 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 109,600 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1986 | 121,000 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1987 | 108,300 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1988 | 153,200 tonnes | +41.5% |
| 1989 | 180,400 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1990 | 210,000 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1991 | 212,000 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 220,000 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 220,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 186,000 tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1995 | 100,000 tonnes | -46.2% |
| 1996 | 105,000 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 77,300 tonnes | -26.4% |
| 1998 | 100,000 tonnes | +29.4% |
| 1999 | 107,000 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 105,600 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 146,800 tonnes | +39.0% |
| 2002 | 125,131 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 2003 | 167,778 tonnes | +34.1% |
| 2004 | 116,343 tonnes | -30.7% |
| 2005 | 213,221 tonnes | +83.3% |
| 2006 | 216,854 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 70,115 tonnes | -67.7% |
| 2008 | 125,033 tonnes | +78.3% |
| 2009 | 99,589 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2010 | 263,151 tonnes | +164.2% |
| 2011 | 138,428 tonnes | -47.4% |
| 2012 | 192,599 tonnes | +39.1% |
| 2013 | 269,529 tonnes | +39.9% |
| 2014 | 242,151 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 196,104 tonnes | -19.0% |
| 2016 | 288,746 tonnes | +47.2% |
| 2017 | 453,000 tonnes | +56.9% |
| 2018 | 436,400 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 436,400 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 591,628 tonnes | +35.6% |
| 2021 | 426,742 tonnes | -27.9% |
| 2022 | 122,095 tonnes | -71.4% |
| 2023 | 87,804 tonnes | -28.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 87,804 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47,552 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 87,804 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 5.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,266 tonnes | 371 tonnes | 4,600 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 23,081 tonnes | 2,572 tonnes | 62,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 120,520 tonnes | 92,200 tonnes | 180,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 153,730 tonnes | 77,300 tonnes | 220,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 138,646 tonnes | 70,115 tonnes | 216,854 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 291,651 tonnes | 138,428 tonnes | 453,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 307,067 tonnes | 87,804 tonnes | 591,628 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3622 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Nigeria?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Nigeria was 87,804 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 591,628 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 371 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Nigeria ranks 75th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.