Annual freshwater withdrawals in Laos
Laos: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 7.35 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Laos, 2005–2022
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 Laos is 7.35 billion billion cubic meters, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Laos peaked at 7.85 billion billion cubic meters in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3.49 billion billion cubic meters, in 2005.
Laos ranks 57th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Laos, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3.49 billion billion cubic meters | — |
| 2006 | 3.95 billion billion cubic meters | +13.0% |
| 2007 | 4.40 billion billion cubic meters | +11.5% |
| 2008 | 4.85 billion billion cubic meters | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 5.30 billion billion cubic meters | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 5.76 billion billion cubic meters | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 6.21 billion billion cubic meters | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 6.66 billion billion cubic meters | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 7.12 billion billion cubic meters | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 7.57 billion billion cubic meters | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 7.85 billion billion cubic meters | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 7.66 billion billion cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 7.32 billion billion cubic meters | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 7.32 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 7.35 billion billion cubic meters is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.51 billion billion cubic meters, 4.9× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Laos's 7.35 billion billion cubic meters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.27 billion billion cubic meters, 79% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.40 billion billion cubic meters | 3.49 billion billion cubic meters | 5.30 billion billion cubic meters | 5 |
| 2010s | 7.08 billion billion cubic meters | 5.76 billion billion cubic meters | 7.85 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | 7.35 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 54 Netherlands 8.23 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 55 Romania 8.15 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 56 Kyrgyzstan 7.71 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 58 Dominican Republic 7.14 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 59 Cuba 6.96 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 60 Malaysia 6.71 billion billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 5.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Laos?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Laos was 7.35 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 7.85 billion billion cubic meters in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.49 billion billion cubic meters in 2005.
- How does Laos rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Laos ranks 57th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos 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.