Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in France
France: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 21.39 milligrams per liter in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
21.39 milligrams per liter
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
8th
of 34 countries
All-time high
23.89 milligrams per liter
in 1999
All-time low
20.27 milligrams per liter
in 1992
Years of data
30
1992–2021
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in France, 1992–2021
Source: European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in milligrams per liter.
Analysis
France recorded 21.39 milligrams per liter for average nitrate concentration in freshwater in 2021.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in France peaked at 23.89 milligrams per liter in 1999 and was at its lowest, 20.27 milligrams per liter, in 1992.
That places France 8th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in France, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 20.27 milligrams per liter | — |
| 1993 | 20.31 milligrams per liter | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 21 milligrams per liter | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 20.86 milligrams per liter | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 20.83 milligrams per liter | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 20.9 milligrams per liter | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 20.33 milligrams per liter | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 23.89 milligrams per liter | +17.5% |
| 2000 | 23.26 milligrams per liter | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 23.44 milligrams per liter | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 21.17 milligrams per liter | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 21.1 milligrams per liter | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 20.96 milligrams per liter | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 20.71 milligrams per liter | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 21.39 milligrams per liter | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 21.05 milligrams per liter | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 21.15 milligrams per liter | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 20.98 milligrams per liter | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 20.84 milligrams per liter | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 20.89 milligrams per liter | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 20.59 milligrams per liter | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 20.99 milligrams per liter | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 21.3 milligrams per liter | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 21.11 milligrams per liter | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 20.52 milligrams per liter | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 20.33 milligrams per liter | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 20.47 milligrams per liter | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 20.75 milligrams per liter | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 21.17 milligrams per liter | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 21.39 milligrams per liter | +1.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 21.39 milligrams per liter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 1.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- France's 21.39 milligrams per liter is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.05 milligrams per liter | 20.27 milligrams per liter | 23.89 milligrams per liter | 8 |
| 2000s | 21.52 milligrams per liter | 20.71 milligrams per liter | 23.44 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.78 milligrams per liter | 20.33 milligrams per liter | 21.3 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.28 milligrams per liter | 21.17 milligrams per liter | 21.39 milligrams per liter | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % 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 -0.1777 % 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 France?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in France was 21.39 milligrams per liter in 2021, 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 23.89 milligrams per liter in 1999.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.27 milligrams per liter in 1992.
- How does France rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- France ranks 8th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this France 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average annual concentration of nitrate in groundwater.