Nitrogen fertilizer use in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 2,478 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Sierra Leone, 1966–2023
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 Sierra Leone stood at 2,478 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Sierra Leone peaked at 3,173 tonnes in 2002 and was at its lowest, 20 tonnes, in 1966.
Sierra Leone ranks 149th of 202 countries on this measure, 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 20 tonnes | — |
| 1967 | 120 tonnes | +500.0% |
| 1968 | 200 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1969 | 1,130 tonnes | +465.0% |
| 1970 | 1,150 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 648 tonnes | -43.7% |
| 1972 | 530 tonnes | -18.2% |
| 1973 | 600 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1974 | 492 tonnes | -18.0% |
| 1975 | 1,317 tonnes | +167.7% |
| 1976 | 525 tonnes | -60.1% |
| 1977 | 656 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1978 | 553 tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1979 | 1,208 tonnes | +118.4% |
| 1980 | 768 tonnes | -36.4% |
| 1981 | 1,255 tonnes | +63.4% |
| 1982 | 193 tonnes | -84.6% |
| 1983 | 399 tonnes | +106.7% |
| 1984 | 500 tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1985 | 1,600 tonnes | +220.0% |
| 1986 | 1,800 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 200 tonnes | -88.9% |
| 1988 | 228 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1989 | 875 tonnes | +283.8% |
| 1990 | 600 tonnes | -31.4% |
| 1991 | 200 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1992 | 600 tonnes | +200.0% |
| 1993 | 1,000 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1994 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 100 tonnes | -90.0% |
| 1999 | 30 tonnes | -70.0% |
| 2000 | 50 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 2001 | 100 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 2002 | 3,173 tonnes | +3073.0% |
| 2003 | 385 tonnes | -87.9% |
| 2004 | 509 tonnes | +32.2% |
| 2005 | 635 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 2006 | 394 tonnes | -38.0% |
| 2007 | 795 tonnes | +101.8% |
| 2008 | 321 tonnes | -59.6% |
| 2009 | 1,377 tonnes | +329.0% |
| 2010 | 508 tonnes | -63.1% |
| 2011 | 489 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 1,546 tonnes | +216.2% |
| 2013 | 1,900 tonnes | +22.9% |
| 2014 | 327 tonnes | -82.8% |
| 2015 | 169 tonnes | -48.3% |
| 2016 | 1,207 tonnes | +614.2% |
| 2017 | 2,943 tonnes | +143.8% |
| 2018 | 2,478 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 2019 | 2,478 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2,478 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2,478 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2,478 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2,478 tonnes | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2,478 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 14,884 tonnes, 17% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2,478 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +3073.0% | 100 tonnes | 3,173 tonnes |
| 2016 | +614.2% | 169 tonnes | 1,207 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 367.5 tonnes | 20 tonnes | 1,130 tonnes | 4 |
| 1970s | 767.9 tonnes | 492 tonnes | 1,317 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 781.8 tonnes | 193 tonnes | 1,800 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 653 tonnes | 30 tonnes | 1,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 773.9 tonnes | 50 tonnes | 3,173 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,404 tonnes | 169 tonnes | 2,943 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,478 tonnes | 2,478 tonnes | 2,478 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Sierra Leone?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Sierra Leone was 2,478 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 3,173 tonnes in 2002.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 20 tonnes in 1966.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Sierra Leone ranks 149th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 58 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.