A process for producing urea from CO.sub.2 and NH.sub.3 in which the CO.sub.2 and NH.sub.3 are reacted in a reactor, the reaction product is passed into a first stage decomposer maintained at the same pressure as the reactor, the reaction product is contacted in the first stage decomposer with NH.sub.3 to form a urea solution substantially free of CO.sub.2, said urea solution substantially free of CO.sub.2 is passed from the first stage decomposer to a second stage decomposer also maintained at the same pressure as the reactor and is contacted in said second stage decomposer with a stream of inert gas and an aqueous solution of substantially pure urea is withdrawn from the second reactor.