Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in Australia
Australia: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) was 11.62 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Australia, 1993–2022
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
Australia recorded 11.62 billion cubic meters for annual freshwater withdrawals, total in 2022.
That represents a change of up 5.1% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Australia peaked at 22.16 billion cubic meters in 1996 and was at its lowest, 8.38 billion cubic meters, in 2020.
That places Australia 42nd out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in Australia, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 18.55 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1994 | 21.11 billion cubic meters | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 19.85 billion cubic meters | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 22.16 billion cubic meters | +11.6% |
| 1997 | 21.93 billion cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 21.82 billion cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 21.72 billion cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 21.66 billion cubic meters | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 21.53 billion cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 20.83 billion cubic meters | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 20.13 billion cubic meters | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 19.43 billion cubic meters | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 18.73 billion cubic meters | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 17.56 billion cubic meters | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 16.38 billion cubic meters | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 15.2 billion cubic meters | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 14.03 billion cubic meters | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 13.18 billion cubic meters | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 13.21 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 15.87 billion cubic meters | +20.1% |
| 2013 | 19.15 billion cubic meters | +20.7% |
| 2014 | 18.46 billion cubic meters | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 9.22 billion cubic meters | -50.1% |
| 2016 | 10.62 billion cubic meters | +15.2% |
| 2017 | 12.06 billion cubic meters | +13.5% |
| 2018 | 12.33 billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 10.56 billion cubic meters | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 8.38 billion cubic meters | -20.6% |
| 2021 | 11.06 billion cubic meters | +32.0% |
| 2022 | 11.62 billion cubic meters | +5.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 11.62 billion cubic meters is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.7 billion cubic meters, 6.8× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Australia's 11.62 billion cubic meters is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.27 billion cubic meters, 1.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | -50.1% | 18.46 billion cubic meters | 9.22 billion cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.02 billion cubic meters | 18.55 billion cubic meters | 22.16 billion cubic meters | 7 |
| 2000s | 18.55 billion cubic meters | 14.03 billion cubic meters | 21.66 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.47 billion cubic meters | 9.22 billion cubic meters | 19.15 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.35 billion cubic meters | 8.38 billion cubic meters | 11.62 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Australia?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Australia was 11.62 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.16 billion cubic meters in 1996.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.38 billion cubic meters in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- Australia ranks 42nd out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia 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.