United States of America vs World: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total

United States of America
444.29 billion cubic meters
in 2022
World
3,853 billion cubic meters
in 2022
United States of America rank
3rd
World rank
1st

Annual freshwater withdrawals, total over time

  • United States of America
  • World
01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k198020012022

How they compare

World currently reports 3,853 billion cubic meters against 444.29 billion cubic meters in United States of America, a difference of 3,409 billion cubic meters.

That makes World's figure about 8.7 times United States of America's.

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

United States of America ranks 3rd and World ranks 1st of 181 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade United States of America World Difference Ahead
2010s 443.44 billion cubic meters 3,886 billion cubic meters 3,443 billion cubic meters World
2020s 444.29 billion cubic meters 3,859 billion cubic meters 3,415 billion cubic meters World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher annual freshwater withdrawals, total, United States of America or World?
World, at 3,853 billion cubic meters against 444.29 billion cubic meters in United States of America as of 2022.
What is the difference in annual freshwater withdrawals, total between United States of America and World?
3,409 billion cubic meters, with World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for United States of America and World?
9 years are reported by both, from 2014 to 2022.
How do United States of America and World rank globally for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
United States of America ranks 3rd and World ranks 1st 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.

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United States of America vs World: 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 02 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-total-billion-cubic-meters/united-states/world/

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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.