Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Spain
Spain: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 36.93 milligrams per liter in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Spain, 1993–2021
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 Spain is 36.93 milligrams per liter, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Spain peaked at 39.22 milligrams per liter in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4 milligrams per liter, in 1999.
That places Spain 2nd out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Spain, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 9.89 milligrams per liter | — |
| 1994 | 9.89 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 9.38 milligrams per liter | -5.2% |
| 1996 | 12.57 milligrams per liter | +34.1% |
| 1997 | 12.57 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 4 milligrams per liter | -68.2% |
| 2000 | 6.07 milligrams per liter | +51.7% |
| 2001 | 8.37 milligrams per liter | +37.9% |
| 2002 | 26.95 milligrams per liter | +222.0% |
| 2003 | 26.72 milligrams per liter | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 34.76 milligrams per liter | +30.1% |
| 2005 | 38.35 milligrams per liter | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 38.6 milligrams per liter | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 33.8 milligrams per liter | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 27.65 milligrams per liter | -18.2% |
| 2017 | 35.51 milligrams per liter | +28.4% |
| 2018 | 39.22 milligrams per liter | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 38.09 milligrams per liter | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 36.7 milligrams per liter | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 36.93 milligrams per liter | +0.6% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 36.93 milligrams per liter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 2.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Spain's 36.93 milligrams per liter is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 2.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +222.0% | 8.37 milligrams per liter | 26.95 milligrams per liter |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.72 milligrams per liter | 4 milligrams per liter | 12.57 milligrams per liter | 6 |
| 2000s | 25.69 milligrams per liter | 6.07 milligrams per liter | 38.6 milligrams per liter | 7 |
| 2010s | 34.85 milligrams per liter | 27.65 milligrams per liter | 39.22 milligrams per liter | 5 |
| 2020s | 36.81 milligrams per liter | 36.7 milligrams per liter | 36.93 milligrams per liter | 2 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More environment data for Spain
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.402 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.3 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.4277 % 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 -0.5136 % 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 Spain?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Spain was 36.93 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 39.22 milligrams per liter in 2018.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 milligrams per liter in 1999.
- How does Spain rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- Spain ranks 2nd out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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 — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average annual concentration of nitrate in groundwater.