Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Ireland
Ireland: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 12.13 milligrams per liter in 2021. ▼ Falling
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Ireland, 1992–2021
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 Ireland is 12.13 milligrams per liter, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Ireland peaked at 22.53 milligrams per liter in 1993 and was at its lowest, 11.01 milligrams per liter, in 2009.
Ireland ranks 22nd of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Ireland, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 22.43 milligrams per liter | — |
| 1993 | 22.53 milligrams per liter | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 17.46 milligrams per liter | -22.5% |
| 1995 | 17.39 milligrams per liter | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 18.79 milligrams per liter | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 18.24 milligrams per liter | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 18.12 milligrams per liter | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 17.11 milligrams per liter | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 16.74 milligrams per liter | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 16.6 milligrams per liter | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 16.77 milligrams per liter | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 16.7 milligrams per liter | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 17.26 milligrams per liter | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 17.07 milligrams per liter | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 17.25 milligrams per liter | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 17.25 milligrams per liter | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 14.25 milligrams per liter | -17.4% |
| 2009 | 11.01 milligrams per liter | -22.8% |
| 2010 | 13.85 milligrams per liter | +25.8% |
| 2011 | 13.72 milligrams per liter | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 12.33 milligrams per liter | -10.2% |
| 2013 | 12.33 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 14.82 milligrams per liter | +20.1% |
| 2015 | 12.47 milligrams per liter | -15.8% |
| 2016 | 11.76 milligrams per liter | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 11.62 milligrams per liter | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 12.46 milligrams per liter | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 13.38 milligrams per liter | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 12.94 milligrams per liter | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 12.13 milligrams per liter | -6.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 12.13 milligrams per liter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 76% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 12.13 milligrams per liter is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 75% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +25.8% | 11.01 milligrams per liter | 13.85 milligrams per liter |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.01 milligrams per liter | 17.11 milligrams per liter | 22.53 milligrams per liter | 8 |
| 2000s | 16.09 milligrams per liter | 11.01 milligrams per liter | 17.26 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.87 milligrams per liter | 11.62 milligrams per liter | 14.82 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.53 milligrams per liter | 12.13 milligrams per liter | 12.94 milligrams per liter | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.412 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.13 % 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 -0.0083 % 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 Ireland?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Ireland was 12.13 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 22.53 milligrams per liter in 1993.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.01 milligrams per liter in 2009.
- How does Ireland rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- Ireland ranks 22nd out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average annual concentration of nitrate in groundwater.