Nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR
USSR: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 7.78 million tonnes in 1991. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR, 1961–1991
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 1991, nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR stood at 7.78 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.0% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR peaked at 11.79 million tonnes in 1987 and was at its lowest, 859,000 tonnes, in 1961.
That places USSR 4th out of 202 countries with data for 1991, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 859,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1.07 million tonnes | +24.6% |
| 1963 | 1.36 million tonnes | +27.1% |
| 1964 | 1.76 million tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1965 | 2.28 million tonnes | +29.7% |
| 1966 | 2.66 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1967 | 3.09 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1968 | 3.45 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1969 | 3.80 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1970 | 4.61 million tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1971 | 5.18 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1972 | 5.61 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 6.22 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1974 | 6.70 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 7.34 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 7.25 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 7.52 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 7.66 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 7.47 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 8.26 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1981 | 8.38 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 9.04 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1983 | 10.30 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1984 | 10.28 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 10.95 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 11.47 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 11.79 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 11.59 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 9.92 million tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1990 | 8.74 million tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1991 | 7.78 million tonnes | -11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.26 million tonnes | 859,000 tonnes | 3.80 million tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 6.56 million tonnes | 4.61 million tonnes | 7.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.20 million tonnes | 8.26 million tonnes | 11.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.26 million tonnes | 7.78 million tonnes | 8.74 million tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near USSR
More agriculture & rural data for USSR
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Yield, annual -15.01 % change on previous year (1991)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate -5.04 % change on previous year (1991)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate 6.94 % change on previous year (1991)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Production, annual growth rate -11.63 % change on previous year (1991)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate -3.59 % change on previous year (1991)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate -8.33 % change on previous year (1991)
- Onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated) — Production, annual -1.37 % change on previous year (1991)
- Meat of goat, fresh or chilled — Producing Animals/Slaughtered -21.05 % change on previous year (1991)
- Meat of sheep, fresh or chilled — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth 0 % change on previous year (1991)
- Meat of sheep, fresh or chilled — Production, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (1991)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in USSR was 7.78 million tonnes in 1991, 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 USSR?
- The highest recorded value was 11.79 million tonnes in 1987.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in USSR?
- The lowest recorded value was 859,000 tonnes in 1961.
- How does USSR rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- USSR ranks 4th out of 202 countries with data for 1991.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in USSR?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this USSR 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 — 31 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.