What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan?

Annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan was 20.28 billion billion cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Afghanistan?

The highest recorded value was 26.11 billion billion cubic meters in 1987.

What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Afghanistan?

The lowest recorded value was 10.70 billion billion cubic meters in 1975.

How does Afghanistan rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?

Afghanistan ranks 36th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.

Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Afghanistan?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Afghanistan data come from?

The figures 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 part of Annual freshwater withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan

Name: Annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan
Creator: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Afghanistan: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 20.28 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)

20.28 billion billion cubic meters

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

36th

of 181 countries

All-time high

26.11 billion billion cubic meters

in 1987

All-time low

10.70 billion billion cubic meters

in 1975

Years of data

1975–2022

Annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan, 1975–2022

Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in billion cubic meters.

Analysis

In 2022, annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan stood at 20.28 billion billion cubic meters.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan peaked at 26.11 billion billion cubic meters in 1987 and was at its lowest, 10.70 billion billion cubic meters, in 1975.

That places Afghanistan 36th out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	13.27 billion billion cubic meters	10.70 billion billion cubic meters	15.84 billion billion cubic meters	5
1980s	22.36 billion billion cubic meters	17.12 billion billion cubic meters	26.11 billion billion cubic meters	10
1990s	22.19 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	24.52 billion billion cubic meters	10
2000s	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	10
2010s	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	10
2020s	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	20.28 billion billion cubic meters	3

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

33 Saudi Arabia 23.38 billion billion cubic meters compare
34 Venezuela 22.62 billion billion cubic meters compare
35 South Africa 21.11 billion billion cubic meters compare
37 Syria 13.96 billion billion cubic meters compare
38 Madagascar 13.46 billion billion cubic meters compare
39 Azerbaijan 13.03 billion billion cubic meters compare

See the full ranking of 181 places →

More environment data for Afghanistan

Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 33.03 Mt CO2e (2024)
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 0.7746 t CO2e/capita (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 12.48 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.2033 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 1.5 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0094 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 16.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0035 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.026 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 2.03 Mt CO2e (2024)

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan?: Annual freshwater withdrawals in Afghanistan was 20.28 billion billion cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Afghanistan?: The highest recorded value was 26.11 billion billion cubic meters in 1987.
What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Afghanistan?: The lowest recorded value was 10.70 billion billion cubic meters in 1975.
How does Afghanistan rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?: Afghanistan ranks 36th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Afghanistan?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?: The figures 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 part of Annual freshwater withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 2026

Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins, measured in cubic metres (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.