Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay
Uruguay: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 201,843 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay stood at 201,843 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay peaked at 228,212 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4,500 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Uruguay 49th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,500 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 6,700 tonnes | +48.9% |
| 1963 | 7,300 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1964 | 12,080 tonnes | +65.5% |
| 1965 | 8,310 tonnes | -31.2% |
| 1966 | 7,375 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1967 | 7,052 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1968 | 13,481 tonnes | +91.2% |
| 1969 | 12,100 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1970 | 14,500 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1971 | 18,500 tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1972 | 16,000 tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1973 | 15,400 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1974 | 9,900 tonnes | -35.7% |
| 1975 | 11,100 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1976 | 17,900 tonnes | +61.3% |
| 1977 | 17,800 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 14,400 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1979 | 21,800 tonnes | +51.4% |
| 1980 | 21,100 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 20,400 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 22,500 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1983 | 16,700 tonnes | -25.8% |
| 1984 | 19,500 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 17,100 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1986 | 12,800 tonnes | -25.1% |
| 1987 | 15,500 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1988 | 30,895 tonnes | +99.3% |
| 1989 | 24,542 tonnes | -20.6% |
| 1990 | 27,656 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1991 | 28,323 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 31,900 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1993 | 34,000 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 25,000 tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1995 | 21,000 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 1996 | 47,000 tonnes | +123.8% |
| 1997 | 47,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 53,500 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1999 | 43,000 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 2000 | 36,242 tonnes | -15.7% |
| 2001 | 53,448 tonnes | +47.5% |
| 2002 | 25,998 tonnes | -51.4% |
| 2003 | 65,918 tonnes | +153.6% |
| 2004 | 84,440 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 2005 | 73,884 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 96,465 tonnes | +30.6% |
| 2007 | 92,564 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 92,584 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 105,213 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 151,476 tonnes | +44.0% |
| 2011 | 141,136 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 217,044 tonnes | +53.8% |
| 2013 | 208,205 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 176,051 tonnes | -15.4% |
| 2015 | 115,428 tonnes | -34.4% |
| 2016 | 156,574 tonnes | +35.6% |
| 2017 | 155,489 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 160,241 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 172,201 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 204,059 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2021 | 228,212 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 2022 | 212,479 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 201,843 tonnes | -5.0% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 201,843 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 83,582 tonnes, 2.4× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 201,843 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 19,640 tonnes, 10.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +153.6% | 25,998 tonnes | 65,918 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8,766 tonnes | 4,500 tonnes | 13,481 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 15,730 tonnes | 9,900 tonnes | 21,800 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,104 tonnes | 12,800 tonnes | 30,895 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 35,838 tonnes | 21,000 tonnes | 53,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 72,676 tonnes | 25,998 tonnes | 105,213 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 165,384 tonnes | 115,428 tonnes | 217,044 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 211,648 tonnes | 201,843 tonnes | 228,212 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More agriculture & rural data for Uruguay
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0638 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,609 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0435 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 14.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Uruguay was 201,843 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 228,212 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,500 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Uruguay rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Uruguay ranks 49th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.