What is nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa?

Nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa was 420,638 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 South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 618,738 tonnes in 2021.

What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 54,476 tonnes in 1961.

How does South Africa rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?

South Africa ranks 32nd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.

Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this South Africa 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.

Nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa

Name: Nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 420,638 tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)

420,638 tonnes

Change on year

down 22.3%

World rank

32nd

of 201 countries

All-time high

618,738 tonnes

in 2021

All-time low

54,476 tonnes

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2023

Nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 420,638 tonnes, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 22.3% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa peaked at 618,738 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 54,476 tonnes, in 1961.

That places South Africa 32nd out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	102,729 tonnes	54,476 tonnes	150,000 tonnes	9
1970s	282,670 tonnes	180,600 tonnes	400,287 tonnes	10
1980s	408,406 tonnes	328,200 tonnes	528,569 tonnes	10
1990s	390,040 tonnes	358,100 tonnes	413,000 tonnes	10
2000s	418,795 tonnes	347,260 tonnes	477,072 tonnes	10
2010s	423,514 tonnes	327,000 tonnes	535,207 tonnes	10
2020s	542,360 tonnes	420,638 tonnes	618,738 tonnes	4

Countries ranked near South Africa

29 Belarus 490,809 tonnes compare
30 Romania 463,657 tonnes compare
31 Colombia 426,134 tonnes compare
33 Malaysia 398,131 tonnes compare
34 New Zealand 369,000 tonnes compare
35 Bulgaria 340,801 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South Africa

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 12.08 billion current US$ (2025)
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 2.8% (2025)
Rural population 23.43 million (2025)
Rural population growth 0.8% (2025)
Rural population 36.2% (2025)
Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
Land under cereal production 3.36 million hectares (2024)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa?: Nitrogen fertilizer use in South Africa was 420,638 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 South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 618,738 tonnes in 2021.
What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 54,476 tonnes in 1961.
How does South Africa rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?: South Africa ranks 32nd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa 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

Indicator: Nitrogen fertilizer use
Unit: tonnes
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 202 places, 10,271 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measures total nitrogen inputs, including synthetic fertilizers alongside organic inputs from manure and crop fixation. Measured in tonnes of nitrogen.