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 1st out of 1 groups 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.

Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR

Name: Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR
Creator: Lassaletta et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

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

Latest (1991)

45.4%

Change on year

down 13.9%

Rank

1st

of 1 groups

All-time high

116.3%

in 1961

All-time low

37.9%

in 1984

Years of data

1961–1991

Nitrogen use efficiency in USSR, 1961–1991

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.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	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

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More reference data data for USSR

Universal right to vote in practice 2 (1990)
Free country 1 (1990)
Civil liberties rating 4 (1990)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (1990)
Elected parliament 1 (1990)
Competitive elections 0 (1990)
Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (1990)
Universal right to vote 2 (1990)
Democracy 3 (1990)
Milk production 101.33 million tonnes (1991)

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 1st out of 1 groups 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 2026

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.