Annual freshwater withdrawals in Canada
Canada: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 36.13 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Canada, 1986–2022
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 Canada stood at 36.13 billion billion cubic meters.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Canada peaked at 45.09 billion billion cubic meters in 1991 and was at its lowest, 35.60 billion billion cubic meters, in 2011.
Canada ranks 19th of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.07 billion billion cubic meters | 42.20 billion billion cubic meters | 43.94 billion billion cubic meters | 4 |
| 1990s | 43.26 billion billion cubic meters | 41.97 billion billion cubic meters | 45.09 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.17 billion billion cubic meters | 38.80 billion billion cubic meters | 41.89 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.35 billion billion cubic meters | 35.60 billion billion cubic meters | 37.28 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.17 billion billion cubic meters | 36.13 billion billion cubic meters | 36.25 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 16 Uzbekistan 42.90 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 17 Iraq 42.42 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 18 Argentina 37.69 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 20 Bangladesh 35.87 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 21 Chile 35.37 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 22 Italy 33.78 billion billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Canada
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 768.06 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 18.61 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 30.53 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.7994 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 71.72 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2499 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 133.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1643 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.5773 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 28.85 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Canada?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Canada was 36.13 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 45.09 billion billion cubic meters in 1991.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.60 billion billion cubic meters in 2011.
- How does Canada rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Canada ranks 19th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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.