Nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia
Zambia: Nitrogen use efficiency was 48.55 in 2014. ▼ Falling
Nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia, 1961–2014
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia is 48.55, measured in 2014.
The figure is up 12.8% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia peaked at 81.24 in 1966 and was at its lowest, 18.76, in 1992.
That places Zambia 99th out of 205 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 77.93 | — |
| 1962 | 80.34 | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 73.18 | -8.9% |
| 1964 | 76.52 | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 77.98 | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 81.24 | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 75.77 | -6.7% |
| 1968 | 56.75 | -25.1% |
| 1969 | 62.38 | +9.9% |
| 1970 | 38.58 | -38.1% |
| 1971 | 40.48 | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 56.45 | +39.4% |
| 1973 | 45.25 | -19.8% |
| 1974 | 40.31 | -10.9% |
| 1975 | 51.75 | +28.4% |
| 1976 | 48.9 | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 44.82 | -8.4% |
| 1978 | 50.66 | +13.0% |
| 1979 | 32.09 | -36.7% |
| 1980 | 26.52 | -17.4% |
| 1981 | 26.42 | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 22.17 | -16.1% |
| 1983 | 32.24 | +45.4% |
| 1984 | 38.26 | +18.6% |
| 1985 | 33.57 | -12.3% |
| 1986 | 36.06 | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 28.53 | -20.9% |
| 1988 | 50.92 | +78.5% |
| 1989 | 50.15 | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 41.3 | -17.7% |
| 1991 | 42.03 | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 18.76 | -55.4% |
| 1993 | 42.91 | +128.8% |
| 1994 | 41.21 | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 34.5 | -16.3% |
| 1996 | 60.9 | +76.5% |
| 1997 | 45.72 | -24.9% |
| 1998 | 53.2 | +16.4% |
| 1999 | 75.86 | +42.6% |
| 2000 | 75.96 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 59.44 | -21.8% |
| 2002 | 34.51 | -41.9% |
| 2003 | 47.93 | +38.9% |
| 2004 | 41.26 | -13.9% |
| 2005 | 44.83 | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 51.04 | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 48.28 | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 48.54 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 54.25 | +11.8% |
| 2010 | 56.46 | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 48.3 | -14.5% |
| 2012 | 58.86 | +21.8% |
| 2013 | 43.04 | -26.9% |
| 2014 | 48.55 | +12.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 48.55 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 55.16, 88% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 48.55 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.24, 78% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +128.8% | 18.76 | 42.91 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 73.57 | 56.75 | 81.24 | 9 |
| 1970s | 44.93 | 32.09 | 56.45 | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.48 | 22.17 | 50.92 | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.64 | 18.76 | 75.86 | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.6 | 34.51 | 75.96 | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.04 | 43.04 | 58.86 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia?
- Nitrogen use efficiency in Zambia was 48.55 in 2014, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nitrogen use efficiency recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 81.24 in 1966.
- What is the lowest nitrogen use efficiency recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.76 in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for nitrogen use efficiency?
- Zambia ranks 99th out of 205 countries with data for 2014.
- Is nitrogen use efficiency rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Nitrogen use efficiency. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).