Italy vs South Africa: Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals

Italy
22.7%
in 2022
South Africa
23.2%
in 2022
Italy rank
49th
South Africa rank
48th

Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals over time

  • Italy
  • South Africa
10203040197019962022

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 23.2% against 22.7% in Italy, a difference of 0.5%.

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

Italy ranks 49th and South Africa ranks 48th of 179 countries.

Italy has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Italy South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 32.7% 9.2% 23.5% Italy
2000s 33.4% 9.1% 24.3% Italy
2010s 23.8% 16.0% 7.7% Italy
2020s 22.7% 21.9% 0.8% Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals, Italy or South Africa?
South Africa, at 23.2% against 22.7% in Italy as of 2022.
What is the difference in industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals between Italy and South Africa?
0.5%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?
33 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2022.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals?
Italy ranks 49th and South Africa ranks 48th of 179 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 Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Italy vs South Africa: Industrial water as a share of total water 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 10 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/industrial-water-as-a-share-of-total-water-withdrawals/italy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals
Unit
% of total freshwater withdrawal
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
179 places, 5,690 data points, 1965–2022
Last refreshed

Industrial water withdrawals as a percentage of total water withdrawals (which is the sum of water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal purposes).