Annual freshwater withdrawals in China
China: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 568.48 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals in China, 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
The most recent figure for annual freshwater withdrawals in China is 568.48 billion billion cubic meters, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in China peaked at 604.02 billion billion cubic meters in 2016 and was at its lowest, 443.70 billion billion cubic meters, in 1980.
China ranks 2nd of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 474.55 billion billion cubic meters | 443.70 billion billion cubic meters | 496.21 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 527.97 billion billion cubic meters | 500.00 billion billion cubic meters | 547.26 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 561.10 billion billion cubic meters | 550.90 billion billion cubic meters | 583.20 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 595.35 billion billion cubic meters | 586.83 billion billion cubic meters | 604.02 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 568.48 billion billion cubic meters | 568.48 billion billion cubic meters | 568.48 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 15,536 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 11.03 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 498.98 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 32.75 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 736.76 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 3.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 1,485 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 4.13 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 5.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 195.67 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in China?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in China was 568.48 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 604.02 billion billion cubic meters in 2016.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 443.70 billion billion cubic meters in 1980.
- How does China rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- China ranks 2nd out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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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CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.