The atomic nitrogen (N) density in a nanosecond pulse capillary discharge is measured using two-photon laser induced fluorescence (TALIF). The capillary discharge is favored for its unique combination of both large reduced fields (E/N) and high specific deposited energies. Under such conditions, we find that a pure nitrogen (N2) capillary discharge at a pressure of 27 mbar and temperature of about 300 K, produces a peak N-atom density of 1.29 • 10 17 cm -3 , corresponding to an extremely high dissociation degree of about 10%. The time evolution of the N-atom density is tracked from a few hundred ns after discharge initiation, up to several ms when the concentration of N-atoms falls below the detection limit. The temporal evolution curve exhibits a trapezoidal-like shape, characterized by an initial rise in the N-atom density up to a few µs, followed by a relatively flat and constant profile until about 1 ms, and finally terminating with a drop to near detection limits at about 10 ms. The high electron densities (≈10 15 cm -3 ) and efficient production of electronically excited states associated with this type of discharge is found to have a profound effect on the consequent kinetics. A process of stepwise dissociation through electron impact of the N 2 (A Σ u + 3