Africa Eastern and Southern vs South Africa: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total

Africa Eastern and Southern
5.0%
in 2022
South Africa
47.1%
in 2022
Africa Eastern and Southern rank
32nd
South Africa rank
32nd

Annual freshwater withdrawals, total over time

  • Africa Eastern and Southern
  • South Africa
01020304050199020062022

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 47.1% against 5.0% in Africa Eastern and Southern, a difference of 42.1%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 9.3 times Africa Eastern and Southern's.

Across all 28 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 32nd and South Africa ranks 32nd of 46 groups.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Africa Eastern and Southern South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 2.4% 28.7% 26.2% South Africa
2000s 2.9% 30.6% 27.6% South Africa
2010s 4.5% 38.5% 34.1% South Africa
2020s 5.0% 46.4% 41.3% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher annual freshwater withdrawals, total, Africa Eastern and Southern or South Africa?
South Africa, at 47.1% against 5.0% in Africa Eastern and Southern as of 2022.
What is the difference in annual freshwater withdrawals, total between Africa Eastern and Southern and South Africa?
42.1%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Africa Eastern and Southern and South Africa?
28 years are reported by both, from 1995 to 2022.
How do Africa Eastern and Southern and South Africa rank globally for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 32nd and South Africa ranks 32nd 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 (% of internal resources). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Africa Eastern and Southern 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 15 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-total-percent-of-internal-resources/africa-eastern-and-southern/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources)
Unit
% of internal resources
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
223 places, 6,630 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. Data are for the most recent year available for 1987-2002.