China vs United States: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters)
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 568.48 billion cubic meters against 444.29 billion cubic meters in United States, a difference of 124.19 billion cubic meters.
That makes China's figure about 1.3 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 43 shared years of data; in 1980 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 181 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 4 and United States in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 474.55 billion cubic meters | 493.98 billion cubic meters | 19.42 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 1990s | 527.97 billion cubic meters | 468.93 billion cubic meters | 59.05 billion cubic meters | China |
| 2000s | 561.1 billion cubic meters | 465.14 billion cubic meters | 95.96 billion cubic meters | China |
| 2010s | 595.35 billion cubic meters | 436.64 billion cubic meters | 158.7 billion cubic meters | China |
| 2020s | 568.48 billion cubic meters | 444.29 billion cubic meters | 124.19 billion cubic meters | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual freshwater withdrawals, total, China or United States?
- China, at 568.48 billion cubic meters against 444.29 billion cubic meters in United States as of 2022.
- What is the difference in annual freshwater withdrawals, total between China and United States?
- 124.19 billion cubic meters, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 43 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2022.
- How do China and United States rank globally for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 181 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins. Withdrawals also include water from desalination plants in countries where they are a significant source. Withdrawals can exceed 100 percent of total renewable resources where extraction from nonrenewable aquifers or desalination plants is considerable or where there is significant water reuse. Withdrawals for agriculture and industry are total withdrawals for irrigation and livestock production and for direct industrial use (including withdrawals for cooling thermoelectric plants). Withdrawals for domestic uses include drinking water, municipal use or supply, and use for public services, commercial establishments, and homes.