Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium
Belgium: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 27.71 milligrams per liter in 2006. ▼ Falling
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium, 1992–2006
Source: European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in milligrams per liter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium is 27.71 milligrams per liter, measured in 2006. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium peaked at 35.6 milligrams per liter in 2002 and was at its lowest, 27.71 milligrams per liter, in 2006.
That places Belgium 5th out of 34 countries with data for 2006, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30.45 milligrams per liter | — |
| 1993 | 33.7 milligrams per liter | +10.7% |
| 1994 | 33.63 milligrams per liter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 33.1 milligrams per liter | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 32.68 milligrams per liter | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 32.06 milligrams per liter | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 32.61 milligrams per liter | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 34.64 milligrams per liter | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 35.05 milligrams per liter | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 34.09 milligrams per liter | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 35.6 milligrams per liter | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 34.37 milligrams per liter | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 29.86 milligrams per liter | -13.1% |
| 2005 | 29.97 milligrams per liter | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 27.71 milligrams per liter | -7.5% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 27.71 milligrams per liter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 1.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 27.71 milligrams per liter is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.86 milligrams per liter | 30.45 milligrams per liter | 34.64 milligrams per liter | 8 |
| 2000s | 32.38 milligrams per liter | 27.71 milligrams per liter | 35.6 milligrams per liter | 7 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 2 Spain 36.93 milligrams per liter compare
- 3 Luxembourg 29.37 milligrams per liter
- 4 Bulgaria 29.34 milligrams per liter compare
- 6 Germany 25.79 milligrams per liter compare
- 7 Montenegro 22.87 milligrams per liter
- 8 France 21.39 milligrams per liter compare
More environment data for Belgium
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.574 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.19 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5577 % 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 0.0605 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Belgium was 27.71 milligrams per liter in 2006, according to European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6 milligrams per liter in 2002.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.71 milligrams per liter in 2006.
- How does Belgium rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- Belgium ranks 5th out of 34 countries with data for 2006.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average nitrate concentration in freshwater. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average annual concentration of nitrate in groundwater.