Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Nigeria
Nigeria: Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland was 1.99 kilograms per hectare in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Nigeria, 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
Nigeria recorded 1.99 kilograms per hectare for nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in 2023.
That represents a change of down 28.2% on the previous year and down 69.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Nigeria peaked at 13.55 kilograms per hectare in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.01 kilograms per hectare, in 1961.
That places Nigeria 181st out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.01 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 0.01 kilograms per hectare | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.02 kilograms per hectare | +100.0% |
| 1964 | 0.04 kilograms per hectare | +100.0% |
| 1965 | 0.07 kilograms per hectare | +75.0% |
| 1966 | 0.17 kilograms per hectare | +142.9% |
| 1967 | 0.15 kilograms per hectare | -11.8% |
| 1968 | 0.14 kilograms per hectare | -6.7% |
| 1969 | 0.12 kilograms per hectare | -14.3% |
| 1970 | 0.09 kilograms per hectare | -25.0% |
| 1971 | 0.13 kilograms per hectare | +44.4% |
| 1972 | 0.32 kilograms per hectare | +146.2% |
| 1973 | 0.16 kilograms per hectare | -50.0% |
| 1974 | 0.46 kilograms per hectare | +187.5% |
| 1975 | 1.05 kilograms per hectare | +128.3% |
| 1976 | 1.21 kilograms per hectare | +15.2% |
| 1977 | 1.2 kilograms per hectare | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 1.19 kilograms per hectare | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 2.1 kilograms per hectare | +76.5% |
| 1980 | 3.08 kilograms per hectare | +46.7% |
| 1981 | 3.21 kilograms per hectare | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 3.4 kilograms per hectare | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 3.96 kilograms per hectare | +16.5% |
| 1984 | 3.91 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 3.52 kilograms per hectare | -10.0% |
| 1986 | 3.86 kilograms per hectare | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 3.44 kilograms per hectare | -10.9% |
| 1988 | 4.83 kilograms per hectare | +40.4% |
| 1989 | 5.66 kilograms per hectare | +17.2% |
| 1990 | 6.55 kilograms per hectare | +15.7% |
| 1991 | 6.37 kilograms per hectare | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 6.38 kilograms per hectare | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 6.3 kilograms per hectare | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 5.18 kilograms per hectare | -17.8% |
| 1995 | 2.62 kilograms per hectare | -49.4% |
| 1996 | 2.74 kilograms per hectare | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 2.01 kilograms per hectare | -26.6% |
| 1998 | 2.54 kilograms per hectare | +26.4% |
| 1999 | 2.64 kilograms per hectare | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 2.59 kilograms per hectare | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 3.53 kilograms per hectare | +36.3% |
| 2002 | 3 kilograms per hectare | -15.0% |
| 2003 | 4.01 kilograms per hectare | +33.7% |
| 2004 | 2.78 kilograms per hectare | -30.7% |
| 2005 | 5.06 kilograms per hectare | +82.0% |
| 2006 | 5.18 kilograms per hectare | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.67 kilograms per hectare | -67.8% |
| 2008 | 2.97 kilograms per hectare | +77.8% |
| 2009 | 2.3 kilograms per hectare | -22.6% |
| 2010 | 6.22 kilograms per hectare | +170.4% |
| 2011 | 3.28 kilograms per hectare | -47.3% |
| 2012 | 4.54 kilograms per hectare | +38.4% |
| 2013 | 6.41 kilograms per hectare | +41.2% |
| 2014 | 5.75 kilograms per hectare | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 4.65 kilograms per hectare | -19.1% |
| 2016 | 6.83 kilograms per hectare | +46.9% |
| 2017 | 10.68 kilograms per hectare | +56.4% |
| 2018 | 10.17 kilograms per hectare | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 10.07 kilograms per hectare | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 13.55 kilograms per hectare | +34.6% |
| 2021 | 9.76 kilograms per hectare | -28.0% |
| 2022 | 2.77 kilograms per hectare | -71.6% |
| 2023 | 1.99 kilograms per hectare | -28.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0811 kilograms per hectare | 0.01 kilograms per hectare | 0.17 kilograms per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.791 kilograms per hectare | 0.09 kilograms per hectare | 2.1 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.89 kilograms per hectare | 3.08 kilograms per hectare | 5.66 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.33 kilograms per hectare | 2.01 kilograms per hectare | 6.55 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.31 kilograms per hectare | 1.67 kilograms per hectare | 5.18 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.86 kilograms per hectare | 3.28 kilograms per hectare | 10.68 kilograms per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.02 kilograms per hectare | 1.99 kilograms per hectare | 13.55 kilograms per hectare | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 178 Congo 2.26 kilograms per hectare compare
- 179 Tonga 2.17 kilograms per hectare compare
- 180 Senegal 2.11 kilograms per hectare compare
- 182 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.91 kilograms per hectare compare
- 183 Eritrea 1.87 kilograms per hectare compare
- 184 Cuba 1.48 kilograms per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3622 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Nigeria?
- Nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland in Nigeria was 1.99 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 13.55 kilograms per hectare in 2020.
- What is the lowest nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 kilograms per hectare in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland?
- Nigeria ranks 181st out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrogen fertilizer use per hectare of cropland rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.