Mineral fertilizers — Cropland nitrogen per unit area in China
China: Mineral fertilizers — Cropland nitrogen per unit area was 198.59 kg/ha in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mineral fertilizers — Cropland nitrogen per unit area in China, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/ha.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China is 198.59 kg/ha, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China peaked at 232.45 kg/ha in 2013 and was at its lowest, 6.76 kg/ha, in 1961.
China ranks 3rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mineral fertilizers — Cropland nitrogen per unit area in China, year by year
| Year | kg/ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.76 kg/ha | — |
| 1962 | 8.13 kg/ha | +20.2% |
| 1963 | 9.01 kg/ha | +10.8% |
| 1964 | 10.06 kg/ha | +11.6% |
| 1965 | 15.12 kg/ha | +50.3% |
| 1966 | 21.71 kg/ha | +43.6% |
| 1967 | 17.31 kg/ha | -20.3% |
| 1968 | 21.18 kg/ha | +22.4% |
| 1969 | 24.93 kg/ha | +17.7% |
| 1970 | 31 kg/ha | +24.3% |
| 1971 | 32.19 kg/ha | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 37.09 kg/ha | +15.2% |
| 1973 | 42.79 kg/ha | +15.3% |
| 1974 | 36.72 kg/ha | -14.2% |
| 1975 | 48.81 kg/ha | +32.9% |
| 1976 | 52 kg/ha | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 73.43 kg/ha | +41.2% |
| 1978 | 91.11 kg/ha | +24.1% |
| 1979 | 104.72 kg/ha | +14.9% |
| 1980 | 119.23 kg/ha | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 113.05 kg/ha | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 114.77 kg/ha | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 121.67 kg/ha | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 126.87 kg/ha | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 108.95 kg/ha | -14.1% |
| 1986 | 105.42 kg/ha | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 130.09 kg/ha | +23.4% |
| 1988 | 142.22 kg/ha | +9.3% |
| 1989 | 143.18 kg/ha | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 146.72 kg/ha | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 148.57 kg/ha | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 153.31 kg/ha | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 136.27 kg/ha | -11.1% |
| 1994 | 145.08 kg/ha | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 180.38 kg/ha | +24.3% |
| 1996 | 191.75 kg/ha | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 174.22 kg/ha | -9.1% |
| 1998 | 173.62 kg/ha | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 183.35 kg/ha | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 171.35 kg/ha | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 171.56 kg/ha | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 194.06 kg/ha | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 190.18 kg/ha | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 200.35 kg/ha | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 201.93 kg/ha | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 213.28 kg/ha | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 210 kg/ha | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 205.23 kg/ha | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 217.6 kg/ha | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 210.16 kg/ha | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 223.44 kg/ha | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 228.67 kg/ha | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 232.45 kg/ha | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 220.1 kg/ha | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 226.43 kg/ha | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 216.09 kg/ha | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 201.67 kg/ha | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 199.06 kg/ha | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 200.65 kg/ha | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 192.69 kg/ha | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 186.34 kg/ha | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 192.79 kg/ha | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 198.59 kg/ha | +3.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 198.59 kg/ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 45.17 kg/ha, 4.4× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- China's 198.59 kg/ha is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.61 kg/ha, 5.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.91 kg/ha | 6.76 kg/ha | 24.93 kg/ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 54.99 kg/ha | 31 kg/ha | 104.72 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 122.54 kg/ha | 105.42 kg/ha | 143.18 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 163.33 kg/ha | 136.27 kg/ha | 191.75 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 197.55 kg/ha | 171.35 kg/ha | 217.6 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 215.87 kg/ha | 199.06 kg/ha | 232.45 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 192.6 kg/ha | 186.34 kg/ha | 198.59 kg/ha | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 Egypt 306.36 kg/ha compare
- 1 Viet Nam 146.77 kg/ha compare
- 2 Turkmenistan 301.98 kg/ha compare
- 3 Türkiye 81.27 kg/ha compare
- 4 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 56.33 kg/ha compare
- 4 Uzbekistan 193.44 kg/ha compare
- 5 China, mainland 192.39 kg/ha compare
- 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 39.74 kg/ha compare
- 6 Belgium-Luxembourg 191.49 kg/ha compare
- 6 Republic of Moldova 31.08 kg/ha compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China?
- Mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area in China was 198.59 kg/ha in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 232.45 kg/ha in 2013.
- What is the lowest mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.76 kg/ha in 1961.
- How does China rank for mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area?
- China ranks 3rd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mineral fertilizers — cropland nitrogen per unit area rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Mineral fertilizers — Cropland nitrogen per unit area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Cropland Nutrient balance domain contains information on the flows of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from mineral fertilizer, manure applied, atmospheric deposition, crop removal, and biological fixation over cropland and per unit area of cropland. The flows are aggregated to total inputs and total outputs, from which the overall nutrient balance and nutrient use efficiency on cropland are calculated. Statistics are disseminated in units of tonnes and in kg/ha, as appropriate. Nutrient use efficiency is expressed as a fraction (%).