Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland in China
China: Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland was 191.61 kg/ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland in China, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/ha.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland in China is 191.61 kg/ha, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland in China peaked at 235.15 kg/ha in 2014 and was at its lowest, 5.17 kg/ha, in 1961.
That places China 9th out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland in China, year by year
| Year | kg/ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.17 kg/ha | — |
| 1962 | 7.71 kg/ha | +49.1% |
| 1963 | 9.29 kg/ha | +20.5% |
| 1964 | 11.94 kg/ha | +28.5% |
| 1965 | 17.53 kg/ha | +46.8% |
| 1966 | 25.66 kg/ha | +46.4% |
| 1967 | 18.88 kg/ha | -26.4% |
| 1968 | 20.77 kg/ha | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 25.6 kg/ha | +23.3% |
| 1970 | 32.86 kg/ha | +28.4% |
| 1971 | 32.99 kg/ha | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 37.91 kg/ha | +14.9% |
| 1973 | 43.9 kg/ha | +15.8% |
| 1974 | 37.72 kg/ha | -14.1% |
| 1975 | 50.07 kg/ha | +32.7% |
| 1976 | 47.3 kg/ha | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 70.43 kg/ha | +48.9% |
| 1978 | 92.51 kg/ha | +31.4% |
| 1979 | 106.12 kg/ha | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 120.86 kg/ha | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 114.25 kg/ha | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 115.91 kg/ha | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 122.84 kg/ha | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 127.88 kg/ha | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 109.92 kg/ha | -14.0% |
| 1986 | 106.57 kg/ha | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 131.18 kg/ha | +23.1% |
| 1988 | 143.4 kg/ha | +9.3% |
| 1989 | 144.37 kg/ha | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 147.94 kg/ha | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 149.85 kg/ha | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 154.5 kg/ha | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 137.55 kg/ha | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 146.39 kg/ha | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 181.7 kg/ha | +24.1% |
| 1996 | 193.06 kg/ha | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 175.31 kg/ha | -9.2% |
| 1998 | 174.84 kg/ha | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 184.43 kg/ha | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 169.13 kg/ha | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 170.53 kg/ha | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 191.23 kg/ha | +12.1% |
| 2003 | 191.34 kg/ha | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 198.36 kg/ha | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 200.41 kg/ha | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 204.05 kg/ha | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 208.6 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 210.6 kg/ha | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 213.88 kg/ha | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 219.3 kg/ha | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 224.93 kg/ha | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 229.96 kg/ha | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 232.49 kg/ha | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 235.15 kg/ha | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 235.05 kg/ha | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 233.3 kg/ha | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 228.11 kg/ha | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 218.58 kg/ha | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 208.88 kg/ha | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 201.35 kg/ha | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 196.53 kg/ha | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 191.35 kg/ha | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 190.61 kg/ha | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 191.61 kg/ha | +0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 191.61 kg/ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36.48 kg/ha, 5.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 191.61 kg/ha is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.33 kg/ha, 5.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | +49.1% | 5.17 kg/ha | 7.71 kg/ha |
| 1977 | +48.9% | 47.3 kg/ha | 70.43 kg/ha |
| 1965 | +46.8% | 11.94 kg/ha | 17.53 kg/ha |
| 1966 | +46.4% | 17.53 kg/ha | 25.66 kg/ha |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.84 kg/ha | 5.17 kg/ha | 25.66 kg/ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 55.18 kg/ha | 32.86 kg/ha | 106.12 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 123.72 kg/ha | 106.57 kg/ha | 144.37 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 164.56 kg/ha | 137.55 kg/ha | 193.06 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 195.81 kg/ha | 169.13 kg/ha | 213.88 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 226.57 kg/ha | 208.88 kg/ha | 235.15 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 194.29 kg/ha | 190.61 kg/ha | 201.35 kg/ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 6 Uzbekistan 207.19 kg/ha compare
- 6 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 34.85 kg/ha compare
- 7 Costa Rica 194.91 kg/ha compare
- 7 Republic of Moldova 27.51 kg/ha compare
- 8 China, mainland 191.83 kg/ha compare
- 9 Melanesia 23.01 kg/ha compare
- 10 Belgium-Luxembourg 191.49 kg/ha compare
- 11 China, Hong Kong SAR 181.67 kg/ha compare
- 11 United Republic of Tanzania 9.88 kg/ha compare
- 12 Bangladesh 171.82 kg/ha compare
- 12 Syrian Arab Republic 6.94 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 nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland in China?
- Nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland in China was 191.61 kg/ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 235.15 kg/ha in 2014.
- What is the lowest nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.17 kg/ha in 1961.
- How does China rank for nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland?
- China ranks 9th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per area of cropland rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. 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 Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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