Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Germany
Germany: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 25.79 milligrams per liter in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
25.79 milligrams per liter
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
6th
of 34 countries
All-time high
27.08 milligrams per liter
in 2017
All-time low
20.49 milligrams per liter
in 1993
Years of data
30
1992–2021
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Germany, 1992–2021
Source: European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in milligrams per liter.
Analysis
Germany recorded 25.79 milligrams per liter for average nitrate concentration in freshwater in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Germany peaked at 27.08 milligrams per liter in 2017 and was at its lowest, 20.49 milligrams per liter, in 1993.
That places Germany 6th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Germany, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 21.5 milligrams per liter | — |
| 1993 | 20.49 milligrams per liter | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 21.24 milligrams per liter | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 22.23 milligrams per liter | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 21.6 milligrams per liter | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 23.71 milligrams per liter | +9.8% |
| 1998 | 23.73 milligrams per liter | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 22.51 milligrams per liter | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 23.1 milligrams per liter | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 23.01 milligrams per liter | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 23.9 milligrams per liter | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 23.31 milligrams per liter | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 23.07 milligrams per liter | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 23.14 milligrams per liter | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 23.24 milligrams per liter | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 22.8 milligrams per liter | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 25 milligrams per liter | +9.6% |
| 2009 | 24.75 milligrams per liter | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 24.77 milligrams per liter | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 24.11 milligrams per liter | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 23.77 milligrams per liter | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 23.85 milligrams per liter | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 21.67 milligrams per liter | -9.2% |
| 2015 | 26.79 milligrams per liter | +23.6% |
| 2016 | 26.39 milligrams per liter | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 27.08 milligrams per liter | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 26.49 milligrams per liter | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 26.57 milligrams per liter | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 26.81 milligrams per liter | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 25.79 milligrams per liter | -3.8% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 25.79 milligrams per liter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 25.79 milligrams per liter is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 1.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.13 milligrams per liter | 20.49 milligrams per liter | 23.73 milligrams per liter | 8 |
| 2000s | 23.53 milligrams per liter | 22.8 milligrams per liter | 25 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.15 milligrams per liter | 21.67 milligrams per liter | 27.08 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.3 milligrams per liter | 25.79 milligrams per liter | 26.81 milligrams per liter | 2 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 3 Luxembourg 29.37 milligrams per liter compare
- 4 Bulgaria 29.34 milligrams per liter compare
- 5 Belgium 27.71 milligrams per liter compare
- 7 Montenegro 22.87 milligrams per liter compare
- 8 France 21.39 milligrams per liter compare
- 9 North Macedonia 20.53 milligrams per liter compare
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % 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 -0.0079 % 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 Germany?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Germany was 25.79 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 27.08 milligrams per liter in 2017.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.49 milligrams per liter in 1993.
- How does Germany rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- Germany ranks 6th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.