Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in North America
North America: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 480.42 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▬ Flat
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in North America, 2014–2022
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 North America stood at 480.42 billion cubic meters.
That represents a change of up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in North America peaked at 480.54 billion cubic meters in 2017 and was at its lowest, 475.7 billion cubic meters, in 2014.
That places North America 20th out of 44 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in North America, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 475.7 billion cubic meters | — |
| 2015 | 480.02 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 480.28 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 480.54 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 480.54 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 480.54 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 480.54 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 480.42 billion cubic meters | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 480.42 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 479.6 billion cubic meters | 475.7 billion cubic meters | 480.54 billion cubic meters | 6 |
| 2020s | 480.46 billion cubic meters | 480.42 billion cubic meters | 480.54 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 17 Iraq 42.42 billion cubic meters compare
- 18 Argentina 37.69 billion cubic meters compare
- 19 Canada 36.13 billion cubic meters compare
- 20 Bangladesh 35.87 billion cubic meters compare
- 21 Chile 35.37 billion cubic meters compare
- 22 Italy 33.78 billion cubic meters compare
- 23 Myanmar 33.23 billion cubic meters compare
More climate change data for North America
- Population growth 0.6% (2025)
- Population, total 383.50 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.7% (2025)
- Urban population 308.67 million (2025)
- Urban population 80.5% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals 6,870 (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 46.7% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 8.5% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 12.9% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 13.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in North America?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in North America was 480.42 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 480.54 billion cubic meters in 2017.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 475.7 billion cubic meters in 2014.
- How does North America rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- North America ranks 20th out of 44 groups with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North America 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.