Nitrogen fertilizer use in Zambia
Zambia: Nitrogen fertilizer use was 232,086 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use in Zambia, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 232,086 tonnes for nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.0% on the previous year and up 64.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use in Zambia peaked at 232,086 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4,500 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Zambia 45th 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5,280 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 4,500 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 1963 | 4,600 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 6,000 tonnes | +30.4% |
| 1965 | 6,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 6,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 6,500 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1968 | 12,000 tonnes | +84.6% |
| 1969 | 9,126 tonnes | -23.9% |
| 1970 | 19,676 tonnes | +115.6% |
| 1971 | 32,795 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1972 | 25,000 tonnes | -23.8% |
| 1973 | 24,000 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 35,900 tonnes | +49.6% |
| 1975 | 33,700 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1976 | 39,800 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1977 | 46,200 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1978 | 31,000 tonnes | -32.9% |
| 1979 | 38,172 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 1980 | 53,000 tonnes | +38.8% |
| 1981 | 57,600 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 54,084 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 43,300 tonnes | -19.9% |
| 1984 | 37,776 tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1985 | 53,351 tonnes | +41.2% |
| 1986 | 53,814 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 61,817 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1988 | 56,080 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1989 | 51,800 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1990 | 37,900 tonnes | -26.8% |
| 1991 | 40,091 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 57,300 tonnes | +42.9% |
| 1993 | 57,900 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 38,000 tonnes | -34.4% |
| 1995 | 34,000 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1996 | 27,500 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1997 | 32,600 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1998 | 13,200 tonnes | -59.5% |
| 1999 | 10,621 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 2000 | 8,000 tonnes | -24.7% |
| 2001 | 13,000 tonnes | +62.5% |
| 2002 | 40,335 tonnes | +210.3% |
| 2003 | 42,816 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 60,177 tonnes | +40.5% |
| 2005 | 51,637 tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 49,225 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 55,754 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 53,215 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 64,145 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 2010 | 77,617 tonnes | +21.0% |
| 2011 | 116,486 tonnes | +50.1% |
| 2012 | 99,338 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 2013 | 140,744 tonnes | +41.7% |
| 2014 | 137,980 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 165,495 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2016 | 188,107 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 2017 | 210,690 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 147,995 tonnes | -29.8% |
| 2019 | 167,640 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2020 | 191,734 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2021 | 178,635 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 171,912 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 232,086 tonnes | +35.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 232,086 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47,552 tonnes, 4.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 232,086 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15,117 tonnes, 15.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen fertilizer use in Zambia 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 | +210.3% | 13,000 tonnes | 40,335 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6,667 tonnes | 4,500 tonnes | 12,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 32,624 tonnes | 19,676 tonnes | 46,200 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 52,262 tonnes | 37,776 tonnes | 61,817 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 34,911 tonnes | 10,621 tonnes | 57,900 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,830 tonnes | 8,000 tonnes | 64,145 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 145,209 tonnes | 77,617 tonnes | 210,690 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 193,592 tonnes | 171,912 tonnes | 232,086 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use in Zambia?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use in Zambia was 232,086 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 232,086 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,500 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Zambia rank for nitrogen fertilizer use?
- Zambia ranks 45th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.