Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in New Zealand
New Zealand: Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 49.86 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
49.86 kilograms per hectare
Change on year
down 10.2%
World rank
83rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
63.51 kilograms per hectare
in 2017
All-time low
0.59 kilograms per hectare
in 1962
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in New Zealand, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in New Zealand is 49.86 kilograms per hectare, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 10.2% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in New Zealand peaked at 63.51 kilograms per hectare in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.59 kilograms per hectare, in 1962.
New Zealand ranks 83rd of 201 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 per hectare of cropland in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.73 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 0.59 kilograms per hectare | -19.2% |
| 1963 | 0.68 kilograms per hectare | +15.3% |
| 1964 | 1.01 kilograms per hectare | +48.5% |
| 1965 | 1.12 kilograms per hectare | +10.9% |
| 1966 | 1.17 kilograms per hectare | +4.5% |
| 1967 | 0.84 kilograms per hectare | -28.2% |
| 1968 | 1.35 kilograms per hectare | +60.7% |
| 1969 | 1.67 kilograms per hectare | +23.7% |
| 1970 | 1.35 kilograms per hectare | -19.2% |
| 1971 | 1.68 kilograms per hectare | +24.4% |
| 1972 | 5.41 kilograms per hectare | +222.0% |
| 1973 | 5.52 kilograms per hectare | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 3.04 kilograms per hectare | -44.9% |
| 1975 | 1.75 kilograms per hectare | -42.4% |
| 1976 | 3.42 kilograms per hectare | +95.4% |
| 1977 | 3.44 kilograms per hectare | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 4.24 kilograms per hectare | +23.3% |
| 1979 | 3.8 kilograms per hectare | -10.4% |
| 1980 | 3.46 kilograms per hectare | -8.9% |
| 1981 | 3.69 kilograms per hectare | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 5.13 kilograms per hectare | +39.0% |
| 1983 | 5.64 kilograms per hectare | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 6.81 kilograms per hectare | +20.7% |
| 1985 | 5.45 kilograms per hectare | -20.0% |
| 1986 | 4.6 kilograms per hectare | -15.6% |
| 1987 | 6.26 kilograms per hectare | +36.1% |
| 1988 | 3.49 kilograms per hectare | -44.2% |
| 1989 | 3.78 kilograms per hectare | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 7.8 kilograms per hectare | +106.3% |
| 1991 | 10.98 kilograms per hectare | +40.8% |
| 1992 | 15.37 kilograms per hectare | +40.0% |
| 1993 | 18 kilograms per hectare | +17.1% |
| 1994 | 21.38 kilograms per hectare | +18.8% |
| 1995 | 26.47 kilograms per hectare | +23.8% |
| 1996 | 23.83 kilograms per hectare | -10.0% |
| 1997 | 23.64 kilograms per hectare | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 26.13 kilograms per hectare | +10.5% |
| 1999 | 30.64 kilograms per hectare | +17.3% |
| 2000 | 39.27 kilograms per hectare | +28.2% |
| 2001 | 45.79 kilograms per hectare | +16.6% |
| 2002 | 47.49 kilograms per hectare | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 54.98 kilograms per hectare | +15.8% |
| 2004 | 57.64 kilograms per hectare | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 58.2 kilograms per hectare | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 53.68 kilograms per hectare | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 49.92 kilograms per hectare | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 50.27 kilograms per hectare | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 43.84 kilograms per hectare | -12.8% |
| 2010 | 47.86 kilograms per hectare | +9.2% |
| 2011 | 54.17 kilograms per hectare | +13.2% |
| 2012 | 50.03 kilograms per hectare | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 47.9 kilograms per hectare | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 49.32 kilograms per hectare | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 62.97 kilograms per hectare | +27.7% |
| 2016 | 56.84 kilograms per hectare | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 63.51 kilograms per hectare | +11.7% |
| 2018 | 62.21 kilograms per hectare | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 58.32 kilograms per hectare | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 62.56 kilograms per hectare | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 51.13 kilograms per hectare | -18.3% |
| 2022 | 55.54 kilograms per hectare | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 49.86 kilograms per hectare | -10.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.02 kilograms per hectare | 0.59 kilograms per hectare | 1.67 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.36 kilograms per hectare | 1.35 kilograms per hectare | 5.52 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.83 kilograms per hectare | 3.46 kilograms per hectare | 6.81 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.42 kilograms per hectare | 7.8 kilograms per hectare | 30.64 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.11 kilograms per hectare | 39.27 kilograms per hectare | 58.2 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.31 kilograms per hectare | 47.86 kilograms per hectare | 63.51 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.77 kilograms per hectare | 49.86 kilograms per hectare | 62.56 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 80 Estonia 53.71 kilograms per hectare compare
- 81 Romania 52.61 kilograms per hectare compare
- 82 Iran, Islamic Republic of 51.35 kilograms per hectare compare
- 84 Portugal 49.34 kilograms per hectare compare
- 85 Maldives 48.56 kilograms per hectare compare
- 86 Palestine, State of 48.39 kilograms per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for New Zealand
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -10.07 % change on previous year (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0401 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,976 current US$ per person (2023)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.275 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.16 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.0% (2023)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in New Zealand?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in New Zealand was 49.86 kilograms per hectare 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 per hectare of cropland recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 63.51 kilograms per hectare in 2017.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.59 kilograms per hectare in 1962.
- How does New Zealand rank for nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- New Zealand ranks 83rd out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 per hectare of cropland. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Application of nitrogen fertilizer, measured in kilograms of total nutrient per hectare of cropland.