Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR

USSR: Nitrogen use efficiency was 45.4% in 1991. ▼ Falling

Latest (1991)
45.4%
Change on year
down 13.9%
World rank
107th
of 205 countries
All-time high
116.3%
in 1961
All-time low
37.9%
in 1984
Years of data
31
1961–1991

Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR, 1961–1991

4060801001201961197619911961: 116.3 %1962: 102.8 %1963: 80.1 %1964: 97.5 %1965: 73.4 %1966: 84.5 %1967: 72 %1968: 73.5 %1969: 66.5 %1970: 66.1 %1971: 58.7 %1972: 52.5 %1973: 62.2 %1974: 52.4 %1975: 39.3 %1976: 56.8 %1977: 49.9 %1978: 55.7 %1979: 47 %1980: 45.8 %1981: 40.4 %1982: 43.9 %1983: 40.7 %1984: 37.9 %1985: 40.2 %1986: 40.2 %1987: 40.1 %1988: 38.5 %1989: 46 %1990: 52.7 %1991: 45.4 %

Source: Lassaletta et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for nitrogen use efficiency in USSR is 45.4%, measured in 1991.

That represents a change of down 13.9% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, nitrogen use efficiency in USSR peaked at 116.3% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 37.9%, in 1984.

That places USSR 107th out of 205 countries with data for 1991, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.

Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR, year by year

Annual values for Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR, 1961 to 1991.
Year % Change
1961 116.3%
1962 102.8% -11.6%
1963 80.1% -22.0%
1964 97.5% +21.6%
1965 73.4% -24.7%
1966 84.5% +15.2%
1967 72.0% -14.8%
1968 73.5% +2.1%
1969 66.5% -9.6%
1970 66.1% -0.5%
1971 58.7% -11.2%
1972 52.5% -10.5%
1973 62.2% +18.5%
1974 52.4% -15.8%
1975 39.3% -24.9%
1976 56.8% +44.5%
1977 49.9% -12.2%
1978 55.7% +11.6%
1979 47.0% -15.6%
1980 45.8% -2.4%
1981 40.4% -11.9%
1982 43.9% +8.9%
1983 40.7% -7.3%
1984 37.9% -6.8%
1985 40.2% +6.0%
1986 40.2% +0.0%
1987 40.1% -0.4%
1988 38.5% -3.9%
1989 46.0% +19.3%
1990 52.7% +14.6%
1991 45.4% -13.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 85.2% 66.5% 116.3% 9
1970s 54.1% 39.3% 66.1% 10
1980s 41.4% 37.9% 46.0% 10
1990s 49.0% 45.4% 52.7% 2

Countries ranked near USSR

  1. 104 Armenia 46.6%
  2. 105 Mexico 45.7% compare
  3. 106 Vanuatu 45.6% compare
  4. 108 Poland 45.3% compare
  5. 109 French Polynesia 44.8% compare
  6. 110 Guatemala 44.5% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More reference data data for USSR

All data for USSR →

Frequently asked questions

What is nitrogen use efficiency in USSR?
Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR was 45.4% in 1991, according to Lassaletta et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest nitrogen use efficiency recorded in USSR?
The highest recorded value was 116.3% in 1961.
What is the lowest nitrogen use efficiency recorded in USSR?
The lowest recorded value was 37.9% in 1984.
How does USSR rank for nitrogen use efficiency?
USSR ranks 107th out of 205 countries with data for 1991.
Is nitrogen use efficiency rising or falling in USSR?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this USSR data come from?
The figures come from Lassaletta et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Nitrogen use efficiency. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR. Statizoid, drawing on Lassaletta et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/nitrogen-use-efficiency/ussr/

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About this data

Indicator
Nitrogen use efficiency
Unit
%
Source
Lassaletta et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
205 places, 10,031 data points, 1961–2014
Last refreshed

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is the ratio between nitrogen inputs and output. A NUE of 40% means that only 40% of nitrogen inputs are converted into nitrogen in the form of crops.