Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 132.53 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 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
The most recent figure for annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 132.53 billion cubic meters, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 132.53 billion cubic meters in 2022 and was at its lowest, 122.98 billion cubic meters, in 2014.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 38th out of 46 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 122.98 billion cubic meters | — |
| 2015 | 125.78 billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 127.35 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 127.5 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 129.63 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 130.69 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 131.75 billion cubic meters | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 132.29 billion cubic meters | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 132.53 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 127.32 billion cubic meters | 122.98 billion cubic meters | 130.69 billion cubic meters | 6 |
| 2020s | 132.19 billion cubic meters | 131.75 billion cubic meters | 132.53 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 35 South Africa 21.11 billion cubic meters compare
- 36 Afghanistan 20.28 billion cubic meters compare
- 37 Syrian Arab Republic 13.96 billion cubic meters compare
- 38 Madagascar 13.46 billion cubic meters compare
- 39 Azerbaijan 13.03 billion cubic meters compare
- 40 Sri Lanka 12.95 billion cubic meters compare
- 41 Nigeria 12.47 billion cubic meters compare
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Population growth 2.4% (2025)
- Population, total 1.32 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.6% (2025)
- Urban population 590.18 million (2025)
- Urban population 44.7% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 16.3% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 3.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 17.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 13.3% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 3.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 132.53 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 132.53 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 122.98 billion cubic meters in 2014.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 38th out of 46 groups with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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.