Afghanistan vs South Africa: Annual freshwater withdrawals

Afghanistan
20.28 billion billion cubic meters
in 2022
South Africa
21.11 billion billion cubic meters
in 2022
Afghanistan rank
36th
South Africa rank
35th

Annual freshwater withdrawals over time

  • Afghanistan
  • South Africa
010.0B20.0B30.0B197519982022

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 21.11 billion billion cubic meters against 20.28 billion billion cubic meters in Afghanistan, a difference of 828.00 million billion cubic meters.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 33 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Afghanistan ahead.

Afghanistan ranks 36th and South Africa ranks 35th of 181 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Afghanistan averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Afghanistan South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 22.19 billion billion cubic meters 12.98 billion billion cubic meters 9.20 billion billion cubic meters Afghanistan
2000s 20.28 billion billion cubic meters 13.69 billion billion cubic meters 6.59 billion billion cubic meters Afghanistan
2010s 20.28 billion billion cubic meters 17.27 billion billion cubic meters 3.01 billion billion cubic meters Afghanistan
2020s 20.28 billion billion cubic meters 20.77 billion billion cubic meters 488.00 million billion cubic meters South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher annual freshwater withdrawals, Afghanistan or South Africa?
South Africa, at 21.11 billion billion cubic meters against 20.28 billion billion cubic meters in Afghanistan as of 2022.
What is the difference in annual freshwater withdrawals between Afghanistan and South Africa?
828.00 million billion cubic meters, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and South Africa?
33 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2022.
How do Afghanistan and South Africa rank globally for annual freshwater withdrawals?
Afghanistan ranks 36th and South Africa ranks 35th of 181 countries.
Where does this data come from?
AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Annual freshwater withdrawals. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Afghanistan vs South Africa: Annual freshwater withdrawals. Statizoid, drawing on AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/annual-freshwater-withdrawals/afghanistan/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Annual freshwater withdrawals
Unit
billion cubic meters
Source
AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
181 places, 6,284 data points, 1962–2022
Last refreshed

Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins, measured in cubic meters (m³) per year. Total water withdrawals are the sum of withdrawals for agriculture, industry and municipal (domestic uses). Withdrawals also include water from desalination plants in countries where they are a significant source.