Annual freshwater withdrawals in Belgium
Belgium: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 4.30 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Belgium, 1980–2022
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
Belgium recorded 4.30 billion billion cubic meters for annual freshwater withdrawals in 2022.
That represents a change of down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Belgium peaked at 9.03 billion billion cubic meters in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.99 billion billion cubic meters, in 2015.
That places Belgium 71st out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.80 billion billion cubic meters | 8.56 billion billion cubic meters | 9.03 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.12 billion billion cubic meters | 7.59 billion billion cubic meters | 8.51 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.56 billion billion cubic meters | 6.00 billion billion cubic meters | 7.53 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.67 billion billion cubic meters | 3.99 billion billion cubic meters | 5.95 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.28 billion billion cubic meters | 4.25 billion billion cubic meters | 4.30 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 68 Ukraine 4.86 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 69 Hungary 4.69 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 70 Uruguay 4.51 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 72 Kenya 4.03 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 73 Tunisia 3.86 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 74 Yemen 3.56 billion billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Belgium
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 107.82 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 9.09 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 6.62 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.2815 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 2.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0377 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 11.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0561 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0383 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.98 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Belgium?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Belgium was 4.30 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 9.03 billion billion cubic meters in 1980.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.99 billion billion cubic meters in 2015.
- How does Belgium rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Belgium ranks 71st out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium 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.
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About this data
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.