Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in OECD members
OECD members: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 1,013 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▬ Flat
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in OECD members, 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
OECD members recorded 1,013 billion cubic meters for annual freshwater withdrawals, total in 2022. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in OECD members peaked at 1,013 billion cubic meters in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,004 billion cubic meters, in 2015.
OECD members ranks 13th of 44 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in OECD members, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1,010 billion cubic meters | — |
| 2015 | 1,004 billion cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 1,005 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 1,008 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 1,011 billion cubic meters | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 1,008 billion cubic meters | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 1,006 billion cubic meters | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 1,006 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 1,013 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1,008 billion cubic meters | 1,004 billion cubic meters | 1,011 billion cubic meters | 6 |
| 2020s | 1,008 billion cubic meters | 1,006 billion cubic meters | 1,013 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
- 10 Japan 79.7 billion cubic meters compare
- 11 Egypt 77.5 billion cubic meters compare
- 12 Brazil 67.94 billion cubic meters compare
- 13 Russian Federation 64.82 billion cubic meters compare
- 14 Türkiye 64.47 billion cubic meters compare
- 15 Thailand 57.31 billion cubic meters compare
- 16 Uzbekistan 42.9 billion cubic meters compare
More climate change data for OECD members
- Population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Population, total 1.40 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Urban population 1.14 billion (2025)
- Urban population 81.3% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 38.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 7.9% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 17.0% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 21.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 24.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in OECD members?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in OECD members was 1,013 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 OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 1,013 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,004 billion cubic meters in 2015.
- How does OECD members rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- OECD members ranks 13th out of 44 groups with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this OECD members 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.