Annual freshwater withdrawals in Nepal
Nepal: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 9.50 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▬ Flat
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Nepal, 2000–2022
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
Nepal recorded 9.50 billion billion cubic meters for annual freshwater withdrawals in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Nepal peaked at 9.56 billion billion cubic meters in 2000 and was at its lowest, 9.50 billion billion cubic meters, in 2005.
That places Nepal 50th out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Nepal, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.56 billion billion cubic meters | — |
| 2001 | 9.55 billion billion cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 9.54 billion billion cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 9.52 billion billion cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 9.51 billion billion cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 9.50 billion billion cubic meters is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.51 billion billion cubic meters, 6.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 9.50 billion billion cubic meters is below the median for South Asia, which is 11.22 billion billion cubic meters, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.52 billion billion cubic meters | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 9.56 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 9.50 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 47 Greece 10.05 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 48 Ecuador 9.92 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 49 New Zealand 9.88 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 51 Poland 9.38 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 52 North Korea 8.66 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 53 United Kingdom 8.42 billion billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Nepal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.43 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.54 % 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 -6.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Nepal?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Nepal was 9.50 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 9.56 billion billion cubic meters in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.50 billion billion cubic meters in 2005.
- How does Nepal rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Nepal ranks 50th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nepal 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.