Imbalance use of nitrogen and phosphorus accelerates food insecurity in Africa

African countries must improve their agricultural productivity, and food security, but their practicability remains unclear. This study aimed to detail for the first time P and N budget dynamics with their driving factors in African countries. Our findings revealed that N and P use-efficiencies changed from 91.3 %-74.6 % and 57.8 %-64.3 %, respectively resulted from low total N and P inputs that increased from 17.9–46.9 and 4.8–9.5 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively during 1961–2021 implying large space for streamlining agricultural productivity with regional specific attention in Africa. Northern-Africa has currently attained daily recommended calorie and protein supplies though many Sub-Saharan African countries still lag behind and need substantial improvement. Among driving factors, GDP and calorie supply influenced N and P use-efficiencies in Africa with regional and country disparities. Averting food insecurity mainly caused by low agricultural productivity, requires urgent agricultural yield improvement through adequate increase of total N and P inputs within planetary boundaries.