Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per capita in China
China: Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per capita was 17.09 kg/cap in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per capita in China, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/cap.
Analysis
China recorded 17.09 kg/cap for nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita in China peaked at 21.99 kg/cap in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.81 kg/cap, in 1961.
That places China 42nd out of 197 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) — Use per capita in China, year by year
| Year | kg/cap | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.81 kg/cap | — |
| 1962 | 1.19 kg/cap | +46.9% |
| 1963 | 1.39 kg/cap | +16.8% |
| 1964 | 1.73 kg/cap | +24.5% |
| 1965 | 2.47 kg/cap | +42.8% |
| 1966 | 3.51 kg/cap | +42.1% |
| 1967 | 2.51 kg/cap | -28.5% |
| 1968 | 2.69 kg/cap | +7.2% |
| 1969 | 3.21 kg/cap | +19.3% |
| 1970 | 4 kg/cap | +24.6% |
| 1971 | 3.9 kg/cap | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 4.37 kg/cap | +12.1% |
| 1973 | 4.93 kg/cap | +12.8% |
| 1974 | 4.18 kg/cap | -15.2% |
| 1975 | 5.38 kg/cap | +28.7% |
| 1976 | 5 kg/cap | -7.1% |
| 1977 | 7.33 kg/cap | +46.6% |
| 1978 | 9.48 kg/cap | +29.3% |
| 1979 | 10.73 kg/cap | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 12.03 kg/cap | +12.1% |
| 1981 | 11.29 kg/cap | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 11.83 kg/cap | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 13.02 kg/cap | +10.1% |
| 1984 | 14.2 kg/cap | +9.1% |
| 1985 | 12.75 kg/cap | -10.2% |
| 1986 | 12.31 kg/cap | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 14.98 kg/cap | +21.7% |
| 1988 | 16.22 kg/cap | +8.3% |
| 1989 | 16.25 kg/cap | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 16.57 kg/cap | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 16.68 kg/cap | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 16.78 kg/cap | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 14.7 kg/cap | -12.4% |
| 1994 | 15.49 kg/cap | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 19.05 kg/cap | +23.0% |
| 1996 | 20.07 kg/cap | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 18.07 kg/cap | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 17.88 kg/cap | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 18.72 kg/cap | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 17.04 kg/cap | -9.0% |
| 2001 | 17.14 kg/cap | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 19.18 kg/cap | +11.9% |
| 2003 | 19.17 kg/cap | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 19.84 kg/cap | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 20.01 kg/cap | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 20.34 kg/cap | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 20.77 kg/cap | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 20.93 kg/cap | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 21.21 kg/cap | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 21.49 kg/cap | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 21.78 kg/cap | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 21.99 kg/cap | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 21.95 kg/cap | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 21.94 kg/cap | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 21.68 kg/cap | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 21.27 kg/cap | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 20.56 kg/cap | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 19.5 kg/cap | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 18.47 kg/cap | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 17.75 kg/cap | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 17.3 kg/cap | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 16.86 kg/cap | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 16.96 kg/cap | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 17.09 kg/cap | +0.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 17.09 kg/cap is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.87 kg/cap, 2.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 17.09 kg/cap is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.46 kg/cap, 6.9× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.17 kg/cap | 0.81 kg/cap | 3.51 kg/cap | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.93 kg/cap | 3.9 kg/cap | 10.73 kg/cap | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.49 kg/cap | 11.29 kg/cap | 16.25 kg/cap | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.4 kg/cap | 14.7 kg/cap | 20.07 kg/cap | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.56 kg/cap | 17.04 kg/cap | 21.21 kg/cap | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.06 kg/cap | 18.47 kg/cap | 21.99 kg/cap | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.19 kg/cap | 16.86 kg/cap | 17.75 kg/cap | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 39 Norway 17.81 kg/cap compare
- 40 Sweden 17.43 kg/cap compare
- 41 China, mainland 17.38 kg/cap compare
- 43 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.63 kg/cap compare
- 44 Belgium-Luxembourg 16.05 kg/cap compare
- 45 Russian Federation 15.45 kg/cap 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 capita in China?
- Nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita in China was 17.09 kg/cap in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 21.99 kg/cap in 2012.
- What is the lowest nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.81 kg/cap in 1961.
- How does China rank for nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita?
- China ranks 42nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nutrient nitrogen n (total) — use per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. 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 capita. 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