Atmospheric deposition — Cropland nitrogen per unit area in China
China: Atmospheric deposition — Cropland nitrogen per unit area was 24.2 kg/ha in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Atmospheric deposition — Cropland nitrogen per unit area in China, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/ha.
Analysis
China recorded 24.2 kg/ha for atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China peaked at 28.08 kg/ha in 2012 and was at its lowest, 4.6 kg/ha, in 1961.
That places China 5th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Atmospheric deposition — Cropland nitrogen per unit area in China, year by year
| Year | kg/ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.6 kg/ha | — |
| 1962 | 4.7 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 4.81 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 4.91 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 5.02 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 5.13 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 5.24 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 5.35 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 5.47 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 5.59 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 5.5 kg/ha | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 5.75 kg/ha | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 5.9 kg/ha | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 5.82 kg/ha | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 6.44 kg/ha | +10.6% |
| 1976 | 6.75 kg/ha | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 7.49 kg/ha | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 8.16 kg/ha | +9.0% |
| 1979 | 8.61 kg/ha | +5.5% |
| 1980 | 8.77 kg/ha | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 9.08 kg/ha | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 9.48 kg/ha | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 10.06 kg/ha | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 10.75 kg/ha | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 10.53 kg/ha | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 10.89 kg/ha | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 12.07 kg/ha | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 12.92 kg/ha | +7.0% |
| 1989 | 13.38 kg/ha | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 11.97 kg/ha | -10.5% |
| 1991 | 14.21 kg/ha | +18.8% |
| 1992 | 14.85 kg/ha | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 14.92 kg/ha | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 15.48 kg/ha | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 17.69 kg/ha | +14.3% |
| 1996 | 19.02 kg/ha | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 21.47 kg/ha | +12.9% |
| 1998 | 22.01 kg/ha | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 22.24 kg/ha | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 22.55 kg/ha | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 22.58 kg/ha | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 22.81 kg/ha | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 24.02 kg/ha | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 23.92 kg/ha | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 24.55 kg/ha | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 25.25 kg/ha | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 25.9 kg/ha | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 26.18 kg/ha | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 26.94 kg/ha | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 26.98 kg/ha | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 27.25 kg/ha | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 28.08 kg/ha | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 27.14 kg/ha | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 25.93 kg/ha | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 25.62 kg/ha | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 24.89 kg/ha | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 24.09 kg/ha | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 23.87 kg/ha | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 24.18 kg/ha | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 24.08 kg/ha | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 24.28 kg/ha | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 24.2 kg/ha | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 24.2 kg/ha | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 24.2 kg/ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.55 kg/ha, 4.4× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- China's 24.2 kg/ha is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.83 kg/ha, 13.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.03 kg/ha | 4.6 kg/ha | 5.47 kg/ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 6.6 kg/ha | 5.5 kg/ha | 8.61 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.79 kg/ha | 8.77 kg/ha | 13.38 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.39 kg/ha | 11.97 kg/ha | 22.24 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.47 kg/ha | 22.55 kg/ha | 26.94 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.8 kg/ha | 23.87 kg/ha | 28.08 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.19 kg/ha | 24.08 kg/ha | 24.28 kg/ha | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 Nepal 31.37 kg/ha compare
- 2 Viet Nam 12.59 kg/ha compare
- 3 China, Hong Kong SAR 24.28 kg/ha compare
- 3 China, mainland 24.28 kg/ha compare
- 3 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 11.61 kg/ha compare
- 4 Lao People's Democratic Republic 7.74 kg/ha compare
- 6 Israel 23.7 kg/ha compare
- 7 India 20.63 kg/ha compare
- 7 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 6.46 kg/ha compare
- 8 Bosnia and Herzegovina 20.31 kg/ha compare
- 8 Republic of Moldova 6.34 kg/ha compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China?
- Atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China was 24.2 kg/ha in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 28.08 kg/ha in 2012.
- What is the lowest atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6 kg/ha in 1961.
- How does China rank for atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area?
- China ranks 5th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is atmospheric deposition — cropland nitrogen per unit area rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Atmospheric deposition — Cropland nitrogen per unit area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Cropland Nutrient balance domain contains information on the flows of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from mineral fertilizer, manure applied, atmospheric deposition, crop removal, and biological fixation over cropland and per unit area of cropland. The flows are aggregated to total inputs and total outputs, from which the overall nutrient balance and nutrient use efficiency on cropland are calculated. Statistics are disseminated in units of tonnes and in kg/ha, as appropriate. Nutrient use efficiency is expressed as a fraction (%).