Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uganda
Uganda: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 11,665 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uganda, 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 Uganda is 11,665 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.5% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Uganda peaked at 11,953 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 92 tonnes, in 1990.
That places Uganda 130th 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,200 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,300 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1963 | 1,500 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1964 | 1,500 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1,864 tonnes | +24.3% |
| 1966 | 2,572 tonnes | +38.0% |
| 1967 | 1,709 tonnes | -33.6% |
| 1968 | 1,981 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1969 | 2,220 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 4,000 tonnes | +80.2% |
| 1971 | 4,400 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 4,000 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1973 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1,600 tonnes | -60.0% |
| 1975 | 872 tonnes | -45.5% |
| 1976 | 963 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 300 tonnes | -68.8% |
| 1980 | 700 tonnes | +133.3% |
| 1981 | 500 tonnes | -28.6% |
| 1984 | 400 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1985 | 200 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 1986 | 262 tonnes | +31.0% |
| 1987 | 789 tonnes | +201.1% |
| 1988 | 107 tonnes | -86.4% |
| 1989 | 250 tonnes | +133.6% |
| 1990 | 92 tonnes | -63.2% |
| 1991 | 500 tonnes | +443.5% |
| 1992 | 400 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1993 | 1,300 tonnes | +225.0% |
| 1994 | 1,000 tonnes | -23.1% |
| 1995 | 800 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1996 | 200 tonnes | -75.0% |
| 1997 | 200 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1,825 tonnes | +812.5% |
| 1999 | 2,077 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2000 | 3,392 tonnes | +63.3% |
| 2001 | 3,800 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 3,651 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 4,328 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2004 | 3,951 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 2,578 tonnes | -34.8% |
| 2006 | 4,389 tonnes | +70.2% |
| 2007 | 3,968 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 10,644 tonnes | +168.2% |
| 2009 | 7,046 tonnes | -33.8% |
| 2010 | 6,366 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2011 | 7,609 tonnes | +19.5% |
| 2012 | 8,049 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 9,595 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 2014 | 6,639 tonnes | -30.8% |
| 2015 | 2,079 tonnes | -68.7% |
| 2016 | 8,538 tonnes | +310.7% |
| 2017 | 7,608 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 11,209 tonnes | +47.3% |
| 2019 | 11,953 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 7,725 tonnes | -35.4% |
| 2021 | 7,725 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 9,442 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 2023 | 11,665 tonnes | +23.5% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 11,665 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 14,884 tonnes, 78% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 11,665 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 77% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +812.5% | 200 tonnes | 1,825 tonnes |
| 1991 | +443.5% | 92 tonnes | 500 tonnes |
| 2016 | +310.7% | 2,079 tonnes | 8,538 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,761 tonnes | 1,200 tonnes | 2,572 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,517 tonnes | 300 tonnes | 4,400 tonnes | 8 |
| 1980s | 401 tonnes | 107 tonnes | 789 tonnes | 8 |
| 1990s | 839.4 tonnes | 92 tonnes | 2,077 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,775 tonnes | 2,578 tonnes | 10,644 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,964 tonnes | 2,079 tonnes | 11,953 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,139 tonnes | 7,725 tonnes | 11,665 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More agriculture & rural data for Uganda
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 22.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2613 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 315.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6806 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 26.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 26.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Uganda?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uganda was 11,665 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 11,953 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 92 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Uganda rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Uganda ranks 130th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 59 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.