Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals was 16.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea, 1990–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
The most recent figure for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea is 16.4%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea peaked at 16.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 1990.
That places Republic of Korea 62nd out of 179 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.7% | — |
| 1991 | 10.2% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 10.7% | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 12.1% | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 12.5% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 12.9% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 13.6% | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 14.5% | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 15.3% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 15.2% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 16.2% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 16.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 16.5% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 16.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.9% | 9.7% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.8% | 15.2% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.4% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More environment data for Republic of Korea
- Heating Degree Days 4,260 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 1,564 (2024)
- Total fisheries production 3.56 million metric tons (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 1.27 million metric tons (2024)
- Aquaculture production 2.28 million metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 1.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Transport (Energy) 1.64 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2.83 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 13.14 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Industrial Processes 2.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea?
- Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Republic of Korea was 16.4% 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 industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 16.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 1990.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals?
- Republic of Korea ranks 62nd out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea 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 Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Industrial water withdrawals as a percentage of total water withdrawals (which is the sum of water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal purposes).