European Union vs South Africa: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters)

European Union
186.14 billion cubic meters
in 2022
South Africa
21.11 billion cubic meters
in 2022
European Union rank
33rd
South Africa rank
35th

Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) over time

  • European Union
  • South Africa
050100150200199020062022

How they compare

European Union currently reports 186.14 billion cubic meters against 21.11 billion cubic meters in South Africa, a difference of 165.03 billion cubic meters.

That makes European Union's figure about 8.8 times South Africa's.

Across all 9 years both countries report, European Union has been ahead every year.

European Union ranks 33rd and South Africa ranks 35th of 46 groups.

European Union has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade European Union South Africa Difference Ahead
2010s 192.48 billion cubic meters 18.87 billion cubic meters 173.62 billion cubic meters European Union
2020s 185 billion cubic meters 20.77 billion cubic meters 164.23 billion cubic meters European Union

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher annual freshwater withdrawals, total, European Union or South Africa?
European Union, at 186.14 billion cubic meters against 21.11 billion cubic meters in South Africa as of 2022.
What is the difference in annual freshwater withdrawals, total between European Union and South Africa?
165.03 billion cubic meters, with European Union ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and South Africa?
9 years are reported by both, from 2014 to 2022.
How do European Union and South Africa rank globally for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
European Union ranks 33rd and South Africa ranks 35th of 46 groups.
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.

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European Union vs South Africa: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total. Statizoid, drawing on AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 13 November 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-total-billion-cubic-meters/european-union/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters)
Unit
billion cubic meters
Source
AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
227 places, 6,749 data points, 1962–2022
Last refreshed

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.