Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in China
China: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) was 568.48 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in China, 1980–2022
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 China stood at 568.48 billion cubic meters.
The figure is down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in China peaked at 604.02 billion cubic meters in 2016 and was at its lowest, 443.7 billion cubic meters, in 1980.
That places China 2nd out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in China, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 443.7 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 452.08 billion cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 460.46 billion cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 468.85 billion cubic meters | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 477.23 billion cubic meters | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 481.06 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 484.85 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 488.64 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 492.42 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 496.21 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 500 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 508.47 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 516.93 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 525.4 billion cubic meters | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 529.04 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 532.69 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 536.33 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 539.97 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 543.61 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 547.26 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 550.9 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 551.54 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 552.18 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 552.82 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 553.46 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 554.1 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 568 billion cubic meters | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 568.7 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 576.1 billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 583.2 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 586.83 billion cubic meters | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 595 billion cubic meters | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 598.8 billion cubic meters | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 602.8 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 593.4 billion cubic meters | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 591.8 billion cubic meters | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 604.02 billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 596.22 billion cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 592.91 billion cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 591.67 billion cubic meters | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 568.48 billion cubic meters | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 568.48 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 568.48 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 568.48 billion cubic meters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 billion cubic meters, 171.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 568.48 billion cubic meters is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.27 billion cubic meters, 61.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 474.55 billion cubic meters | 443.7 billion cubic meters | 496.21 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 527.97 billion cubic meters | 500 billion cubic meters | 547.26 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 561.1 billion cubic meters | 550.9 billion cubic meters | 583.2 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 595.35 billion cubic meters | 586.83 billion cubic meters | 604.02 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 568.48 billion cubic meters | 568.48 billion cubic meters | 568.48 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in China?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in China was 568.48 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 604.02 billion cubic meters in 2016.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 443.7 billion cubic meters in 1980.
- How does China rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- China ranks 2nd out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.