Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America
United States of America: Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals was 47.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America, 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
In 2022, industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America stood at 47.2%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America peaked at 54.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 47.2%, in 2015.
United States of America ranks 21st of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.3% | — |
| 1991 | 54.2% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 54.2% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 54.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 54.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 53.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 53.8% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 53.7% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 53.6% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 53.5% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 53.4% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 53.6% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 53.8% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 53.9% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 54.1% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 54.2% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 53.7% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 53.1% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 52.5% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.8% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 51.2% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 50.4% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 49.7% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 48.9% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 48.0% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 47.2% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 47.2% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.9% | 53.5% | 54.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.4% | 51.8% | 54.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.4% | 47.2% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.2% | 47.2% | 47.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More environment data for United States of America
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.91 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.62 Percentage change (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,193 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 1,199 (2024)
- Total fisheries production 4.68 million metric tons (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 4.21 million metric tons (2024)
- Aquaculture production 467,617 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 9.94 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America?
- Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United States of America was 47.2% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 54.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.2% in 2015.
- How does United States of America rank for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals?
- United States of America ranks 21st out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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).