Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) was 100.16 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1990–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in billion cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2022, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 100.16 billion cubic meters. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 100.16 billion cubic meters in 2022 and was at its lowest, 37.11 billion cubic meters, in 1990.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 41st out of 46 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37.11 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1991 | 37.29 billion cubic meters | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 39.21 billion cubic meters | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 39.37 billion cubic meters | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 41.95 billion cubic meters | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 43.11 billion cubic meters | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 43.84 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 44.59 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 45.33 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 46.09 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 47.36 billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 48.73 billion cubic meters | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 55.66 billion cubic meters | +14.2% |
| 2003 | 57.01 billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 58.19 billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 59.32 billion cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 59.87 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 60.38 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 61.18 billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 61.67 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 62.29 billion cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 62.72 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 90.81 billion cubic meters | +44.8% |
| 2013 | 90.11 billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 92.58 billion cubic meters | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 95.04 billion cubic meters | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 96.52 billion cubic meters | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 96.79 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 97.49 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 98.35 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 99.35 billion cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 99.93 billion cubic meters | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 100.16 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in Africa Eastern and Southern changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +44.8% | 62.72 billion cubic meters | 90.81 billion cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.79 billion cubic meters | 37.11 billion cubic meters | 46.09 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.94 billion cubic meters | 47.36 billion cubic meters | 61.67 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 88.27 billion cubic meters | 62.29 billion cubic meters | 98.35 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.81 billion cubic meters | 99.35 billion cubic meters | 100.16 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 38 Madagascar 13.46 billion cubic meters compare
- 39 Azerbaijan 13.03 billion cubic meters compare
- 40 Sri Lanka 12.95 billion cubic meters compare
- 41 Nigeria 12.47 billion cubic meters compare
- 42 Australia 11.62 billion cubic meters compare
- 43 Tajikistan 10.6 billion cubic meters compare
- 44 Morocco 10.57 billion cubic meters compare
More climate change data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population 305.30 million (2025)
- Urban population 38.7% (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.387 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 50.51 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 19.08 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 15.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Eastern and Southern was 100.16 billion cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 100.16 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.11 billion cubic meters in 1990.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 41st out of 46 groups with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.