Annual freshwater withdrawals in Iran
Iran: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 92.95 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
92.95 billion billion cubic meters
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
6th
of 181 countries
All-time high
92.95 billion billion cubic meters
in 2004
All-time low
45.00 billion billion cubic meters
in 1975
Years of data
48
1975–2022
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Iran, 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
Iran recorded 92.95 billion billion cubic meters for annual freshwater withdrawals in 2022. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Iran peaked at 92.95 billion billion cubic meters in 2004 and was at its lowest, 45.00 billion billion cubic meters, in 1975.
That places Iran 6th out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Iran, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 45.00 billion billion cubic meters | — |
| 1976 | 46.39 billion billion cubic meters | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 47.78 billion billion cubic meters | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 49.17 billion billion cubic meters | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 50.56 billion billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 51.96 billion billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 53.35 billion billion cubic meters | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 54.74 billion billion cubic meters | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 56.13 billion billion cubic meters | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 57.52 billion billion cubic meters | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 58.91 billion billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 60.30 billion billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 61.69 billion billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 63.08 billion billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 64.47 billion billion cubic meters | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 65.87 billion billion cubic meters | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 67.25 billion billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 68.65 billion billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 70.04 billion billion cubic meters | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 76.52 billion billion cubic meters | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 83.00 billion billion cubic meters | +8.5% |
| 1996 | 84.10 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 85.20 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 86.30 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 87.40 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 88.50 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 89.65 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 90.80 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 91.95 billion billion cubic meters | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 92.95 billion billion cubic meters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 billion billion cubic meters, 28.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 92.95 billion billion cubic meters is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.56 billion billion cubic meters, 26.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.78 billion billion cubic meters | 45.00 billion billion cubic meters | 50.56 billion billion cubic meters | 5 |
| 1980s | 58.22 billion billion cubic meters | 51.96 billion billion cubic meters | 64.47 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.43 billion billion cubic meters | 65.87 billion billion cubic meters | 87.40 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.86 billion billion cubic meters | 88.50 billion billion cubic meters | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 92.95 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 3 United States 444.29 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 4 Indonesia 222.63 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 5 Pakistan 179.30 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 7 Philippines 91.04 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 8 Mexico 89.80 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 9 Vietnam 81.86 billion billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.0807 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Iran?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Iran was 92.95 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 92.95 billion billion cubic meters in 2004.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.00 billion billion cubic meters in 1975.
- How does Iran rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Iran ranks 6th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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 meters (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.