Nitrogen fertilizer use in Tanzania
Tanzania: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 188,183 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Tanzania, 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 Tanzania stood at 188,183 tonnes. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.6% on the previous year and up 74.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Tanzania peaked at 188,183 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,149 tonnes, in 1962.
Tanzania ranks 52nd 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 Tanzania, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,423 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,149 tonnes | -19.3% |
| 1963 | 1,500 tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1964 | 1,500 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 4,000 tonnes | +166.7% |
| 1966 | 5,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1967 | 4,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1968 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 5,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1970 | 8,000 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 1971 | 10,700 tonnes | +33.8% |
| 1972 | 8,611 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 1973 | 11,133 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1974 | 13,944 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1975 | 14,891 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 13,337 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1977 | 16,031 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1978 | 12,900 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 1979 | 23,000 tonnes | +78.3% |
| 1980 | 22,800 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 17,500 tonnes | -23.2% |
| 1982 | 23,200 tonnes | +32.6% |
| 1983 | 15,463 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1984 | 23,500 tonnes | +52.0% |
| 1985 | 25,926 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1986 | 26,150 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 31,931 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1988 | 26,684 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1989 | 28,400 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 33,100 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1991 | 33,644 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 33,147 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 26,300 tonnes | -20.7% |
| 1994 | 25,400 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 15,000 tonnes | -40.9% |
| 1996 | 20,175 tonnes | +34.5% |
| 1997 | 24,943 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1998 | 19,324 tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1999 | 12,535 tonnes | -35.1% |
| 2000 | 14,135 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 2001 | 6,660 tonnes | -52.9% |
| 2002 | 22,192 tonnes | +233.2% |
| 2003 | 26,590 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 2004 | 34,469 tonnes | +29.6% |
| 2005 | 33,530 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 39,222 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 2007 | 41,448 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 43,426 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 66,942 tonnes | +54.2% |
| 2010 | 66,380 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 67,717 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 56,531 tonnes | -16.5% |
| 2013 | 108,182 tonnes | +91.4% |
| 2014 | 84,010 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 2015 | 76,516 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 107,567 tonnes | +40.6% |
| 2017 | 106,012 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 141,509 tonnes | +33.5% |
| 2019 | 78,207 tonnes | -44.7% |
| 2020 | 171,355 tonnes | +119.1% |
| 2021 | 88,895 tonnes | -48.1% |
| 2022 | 165,630 tonnes | +86.3% |
| 2023 | 188,183 tonnes | +13.6% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 188,183 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47,552 tonnes, 4.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 188,183 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 12.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Tanzania 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 | +233.2% | 6,660 tonnes | 22,192 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3,064 tonnes | 1,149 tonnes | 5,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 13,255 tonnes | 8,000 tonnes | 23,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 24,155 tonnes | 15,463 tonnes | 31,931 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 24,357 tonnes | 12,535 tonnes | 33,644 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,861 tonnes | 6,660 tonnes | 66,942 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 89,263 tonnes | 56,531 tonnes | 141,509 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 153,516 tonnes | 88,895 tonnes | 188,183 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More agriculture & rural data for Tanzania
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2291 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 292.74 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6312 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 22.9% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 22.9% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.5% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Tanzania?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Tanzania was 188,183 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 188,183 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,149 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Tanzania rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Tanzania ranks 52nd out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.