Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 32.38 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central, 1987–2022
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
The most recent figure for annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central is 32.38 billion cubic meters, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central peaked at 32.41 billion cubic meters in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13.84 billion cubic meters, in 1987.
Africa Western and Central ranks 43rd of 46 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 13.84 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1988 | 15.17 billion cubic meters | +9.6% |
| 1989 | 16.02 billion cubic meters | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 16.87 billion cubic meters | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 17.64 billion cubic meters | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 18.43 billion cubic meters | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 19.35 billion cubic meters | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 20.27 billion cubic meters | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 21.18 billion cubic meters | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 22.09 billion cubic meters | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 22.95 billion cubic meters | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 23.9 billion cubic meters | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 24.78 billion cubic meters | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 25.66 billion cubic meters | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 26.62 billion cubic meters | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 27.35 billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 27.77 billion cubic meters | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 28.18 billion cubic meters | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 28.67 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 28.96 billion cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 29.23 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 29.51 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 29.78 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 30.05 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 30.14 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 30.24 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 30.33 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 30.41 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 30.75 billion cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 30.84 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 30.72 billion cubic meters | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 32.15 billion cubic meters | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 32.35 billion cubic meters | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 32.41 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 32.37 billion cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 32.38 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.01 billion cubic meters | 13.84 billion cubic meters | 16.02 billion cubic meters | 3 |
| 1990s | 20.75 billion cubic meters | 16.87 billion cubic meters | 24.78 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.17 billion cubic meters | 25.66 billion cubic meters | 29.78 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.8 billion cubic meters | 30.05 billion cubic meters | 32.35 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.39 billion cubic meters | 32.37 billion cubic meters | 32.41 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 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
- 45 Ethiopia 10.55 billion cubic meters compare
- 46 Algeria 10.29 billion cubic meters compare
More climate change data for Africa Western and Central
- Population growth 2.3% (2025)
- Population, total 532.81 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.4% (2025)
- Urban population 284.93 million (2025)
- Urban population 53.5% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 18.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 1.7% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 16.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 13.0% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 2.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Africa Western and Central was 32.38 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 32.41 billion cubic meters in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.84 billion cubic meters in 1987.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 43rd out of 46 groups with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.