Annual freshwater withdrawals in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 23.38 billion billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2022
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 Saudi Arabia is 23.38 billion billion cubic meters, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Saudi Arabia peaked at 23.38 billion billion cubic meters in 2018 and was at its lowest, 16.12 billion billion cubic meters, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 33rd out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 16.12 billion billion cubic meters | — |
| 1993 | 16.57 billion billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 17.00 billion billion cubic meters | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 17.47 billion billion cubic meters | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 17.91 billion billion cubic meters | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 18.37 billion billion cubic meters | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 18.81 billion billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 19.24 billion billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 19.67 billion billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 19.98 billion billion cubic meters | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 20.35 billion billion cubic meters | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 20.60 billion billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 20.88 billion billion cubic meters | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 21.48 billion billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 22.64 billion billion cubic meters | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 22.47 billion billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 22.29 billion billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 22.12 billion billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 21.95 billion billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 21.78 billion billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 21.60 billion billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 21.46 billion billion cubic meters | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 21.47 billion billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 22.77 billion billion cubic meters | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 22.31 billion billion cubic meters | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 22.94 billion billion cubic meters | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 23.38 billion billion cubic meters is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.70 billion billion cubic meters, 13.7× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 23.38 billion billion cubic meters is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.56 billion billion cubic meters, 6.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.69 billion billion cubic meters | 16.12 billion billion cubic meters | 19.24 billion billion cubic meters | 8 |
| 2000s | 21.25 billion billion cubic meters | 19.67 billion billion cubic meters | 22.64 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.30 billion billion cubic meters | 21.46 billion billion cubic meters | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | 23.38 billion billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 30 Kazakhstan 24.97 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 31 France 24.43 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 32 Colombia 24.26 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 34 Venezuela 22.62 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 35 South Africa 21.11 billion billion cubic meters compare
- 36 Afghanistan 20.28 billion billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % 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 9.62 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Saudi Arabia was 23.38 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.38 billion billion cubic meters in 2018.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.12 billion billion cubic meters in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 33rd out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.