Industrial water withdrawal in Namibia
Namibia: Industrial water withdrawal was 18.61 million cubic meters in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
18.61 million cubic meters
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
143rd
of 180 countries
All-time high
18.61 million cubic meters
in 2021
All-time low
8.00 million cubic meters
in 1991
Years of data
33
1991–2023
Industrial water withdrawal in Namibia, 1991–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 18.61 million cubic meters for industrial water withdrawal in 2023. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industrial water withdrawal in Namibia peaked at 18.61 million cubic meters in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.00 million cubic meters, in 1991.
Namibia ranks 143rd of 180 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Industrial water withdrawal in Namibia, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.00 million cubic meters | — |
| 1992 | 8.62 million cubic meters | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 9.25 million cubic meters | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 9.88 million cubic meters | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 10.50 million cubic meters | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 11.12 million cubic meters | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 11.75 million cubic meters | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 12.38 million cubic meters | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 13.00 million cubic meters | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 14.00 million cubic meters | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 14.17 million cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 14.34 million cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 14.51 million cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 14.68 million cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 14.86 million cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 15.03 million cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 15.20 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 15.37 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 15.54 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 15.71 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 15.88 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 16.05 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 16.22 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 16.39 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 16.57 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 16.74 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 16.91 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 17.08 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 17.25 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 17.42 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 18.61 million cubic meters | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 18.61 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 18.61 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 18.61 million cubic meters is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 80.80 million cubic meters, 23% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 18.61 million cubic meters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.50 million cubic meters, 68% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.50 million cubic meters | 8.00 million cubic meters | 13.00 million cubic meters | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.77 million cubic meters | 14.00 million cubic meters | 15.54 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.48 million cubic meters | 15.71 million cubic meters | 17.25 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.31 million cubic meters | 17.42 million cubic meters | 18.61 million cubic meters | 4 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 140 Eswatini 20.70 million cubic meters compare
- 141 Guyana 20.40 million cubic meters compare
- 142 Lesotho 20.00 million cubic meters compare
- 144 Cyprus 17.00 million cubic meters compare
- 145 Burundi 15.00 million cubic meters compare
- 146 Bahrain 14.10 million cubic meters compare
- 146 Gabon 14.10 million cubic meters compare
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.39 % 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) -100 % change on previous year (2009)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industrial water withdrawal in Namibia?
- Industrial water withdrawal in Namibia was 18.61 million cubic meters in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest industrial water withdrawal recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.61 million cubic meters in 2021.
- What is the lowest industrial water withdrawal recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.00 million cubic meters in 1991.
- How does Namibia rank for industrial water withdrawal?
- Namibia ranks 143rd out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is industrial water withdrawal rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Industrial water withdrawal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year by self-supplied industries.