China vs United States: Industrial water withdrawal
China
103.04 billion cubic meters
in 2023
United States
209.70 billion cubic meters
in 2023
China rank
2nd
United States rank
1st
Industrial water withdrawal over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 209.70 billion cubic meters against 103.04 billion cubic meters in China, a difference of 106.66 billion cubic meters.
That makes United States's figure about 2.0 times China's.
Across all 39 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 180 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.70 billion cubic meters | 297.97 billion cubic meters | 256.27 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 1990s | 90.44 billion cubic meters | 297.11 billion cubic meters | 206.67 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 2000s | 128.10 billion cubic meters | 291.87 billion cubic meters | 163.77 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 2010s | 134.94 billion cubic meters | 221.31 billion cubic meters | 86.37 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 2020s | 103.04 billion cubic meters | 209.70 billion cubic meters | 106.66 billion cubic meters | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher industrial water withdrawal, China or United States?
- United States, at 209.70 billion cubic meters against 103.04 billion cubic meters in China as of 2023.
- What is the difference in industrial water withdrawal between China and United States?
- 106.66 billion cubic meters, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 39 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2023.
- How do China and United States rank globally for industrial water withdrawal?
- China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 180 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Industrial water withdrawal. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Water withdrawn each year by self-supplied industries.