Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in United States
United States: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) was 444.29 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in United States, 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
The most recent figure for annual freshwater withdrawals, total in United States is 444.29 billion cubic meters, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in United States peaked at 517.6 billion cubic meters in 1980 and was at its lowest, 418.8 billion cubic meters, in 2010.
United States ranks 3rd of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters) in United States, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 517.6 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 512.35 billion cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 507.1 billion cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 501.85 billion cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 496.6 billion cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 491.35 billion cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 486.1 billion cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 480.85 billion cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 475.6 billion cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 470.35 billion cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 465.1 billion cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 465.95 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 466.8 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 467.65 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 468.5 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 469.35 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 470.2 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 471.05 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 471.9 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 472.75 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 473.6 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 474.6 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 475.6 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 476.6 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 477.6 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 478.6 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 466.64 billion cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 454.68 billion cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 442.72 billion cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 430.76 billion cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 418.8 billion cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 423.9 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 429 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 434.09 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 439.19 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 444.29 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 444.29 billion cubic meters is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.7 billion cubic meters, 260.7× the median. (59 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 493.98 billion cubic meters | 470.35 billion cubic meters | 517.6 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 468.93 billion cubic meters | 465.1 billion cubic meters | 472.75 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 465.14 billion cubic meters | 430.76 billion cubic meters | 478.6 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 436.64 billion cubic meters | 418.8 billion cubic meters | 444.29 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 444.29 billion cubic meters | 444.29 billion cubic meters | 444.29 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in United States?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in United States was 444.29 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 517.6 billion cubic meters in 1980.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 418.8 billion cubic meters in 2010.
- How does United States rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.