Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Export quantity in South Africa
South Africa: Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Export quantity was 172,469 t in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Export quantity in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity in South Africa is 172,469 t, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 9.6% on the previous year and up 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity in South Africa peaked at 184,290 t in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,000 t, in 1966.
That places South Africa 38th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Export quantity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | t | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,106 t | — |
| 1962 | 3,680 t | +232.7% |
| 1963 | 5,000 t | +35.9% |
| 1964 | 2,000 t | -60.0% |
| 1965 | 2,000 t | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1,000 t | -50.0% |
| 1967 | 6,000 t | +500.0% |
| 1968 | 16,000 t | +166.7% |
| 1969 | 28,700 t | +79.4% |
| 1970 | 11,000 t | -61.7% |
| 1971 | 15,000 t | +36.4% |
| 1972 | 9,000 t | -40.0% |
| 1973 | 22,000 t | +144.4% |
| 1974 | 26,000 t | +18.2% |
| 1975 | 31,800 t | +22.3% |
| 1976 | 37,000 t | +16.4% |
| 1977 | 47,000 t | +27.0% |
| 1978 | 68,000 t | +44.7% |
| 1979 | 26,000 t | -61.8% |
| 1980 | 31,000 t | +19.2% |
| 1981 | 7,000 t | -77.4% |
| 1982 | 27,000 t | +285.7% |
| 1983 | 32,000 t | +18.5% |
| 1984 | 85,000 t | +165.6% |
| 1985 | 70,000 t | -17.6% |
| 1986 | 52,000 t | -25.7% |
| 1987 | 66,600 t | +28.1% |
| 1988 | 60,000 t | -9.9% |
| 1989 | 62,000 t | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 24,400 t | -60.6% |
| 1991 | 31,400 t | +28.7% |
| 1992 | 60,800 t | +93.6% |
| 1993 | 73,500 t | +20.9% |
| 1994 | 54,100 t | -26.4% |
| 1995 | 79,800 t | +47.5% |
| 1996 | 98,200 t | +23.1% |
| 1997 | 100,400 t | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 71,500 t | -28.8% |
| 1999 | 97,700 t | +36.6% |
| 2000 | 64,600 t | -33.9% |
| 2001 | 55,600 t | -13.9% |
| 2002 | 131,756 t | +137.0% |
| 2003 | 109,411 t | -17.0% |
| 2004 | 80,842 t | -26.1% |
| 2005 | 112,599 t | +39.3% |
| 2006 | 113,837 t | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 90,933 t | -20.1% |
| 2008 | 80,097 t | -11.9% |
| 2009 | 77,526 t | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 121,528 t | +56.8% |
| 2011 | 104,557 t | -14.0% |
| 2012 | 118,479 t | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 150,674 t | +27.2% |
| 2014 | 131,777 t | -12.5% |
| 2015 | 184,290 t | +39.8% |
| 2016 | 165,978 t | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 179,366 t | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 157,794 t | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 120,951 t | -23.3% |
| 2020 | 133,082 t | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 173,679 t | +30.5% |
| 2022 | 156,934 t | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 157,407 t | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 172,469 t | +9.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 172,469 t is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 419.5 t, 411.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 172,469 t is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18 t, 9581.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Export quantity in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +500.0% | 1,000 t | 6,000 t |
| 1982 | +285.7% | 7,000 t | 27,000 t |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7,276 t | 1,000 t | 28,700 t | 9 |
| 1970s | 29,280 t | 9,000 t | 68,000 t | 10 |
| 1980s | 49,260 t | 7,000 t | 85,000 t | 10 |
| 1990s | 69,180 t | 24,400 t | 100,400 t | 10 |
| 2000s | 91,720 t | 55,600 t | 131,756 t | 10 |
| 2010s | 143,539 t | 104,557 t | 184,290 t | 10 |
| 2020s | 158,714 t | 133,082 t | 173,679 t | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 35 Yugoslav SFR 207,000 t compare
- 36 Czechoslovakia 205,300 t compare
- 37 Republic of Korea 204,582 t compare
- 39 Italy 171,558 t compare
- 40 Hungary 159,045 t compare
- 41 Kazakhstan 152,162 t compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.59 % 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 0.2953 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity in South Africa?
- Nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity in South Africa was 172,469 t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 184,290 t in 2015.
- What is the lowest nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 t in 1966.
- How does South Africa rank for nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nutrient nitrogen n (total) — export quantity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Export quantity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
The Fertilizers by Nutrient dataset contains information on the totals in nutrients for Production, Trade and Agriculture Use of inorganic (chemical or mineral) fertilizers. The data are provided for the three primary plant nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (expressed as P2O5) and potassium (expressed as K2O). Both straight and compound fertilizers are included. Methodological details can be found at: https://files-faostat.fao.org/production/RFN/RFN_EN_README.pdf