Industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Industrial water withdrawal was 1.01 billion cubic meters in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom, 2000–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom is 1.01 billion cubic meters, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom peaked at 7.19 billion cubic meters in 2000 and was at its lowest, 672.20 million cubic meters, in 2011.
United Kingdom ranks 51st of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.19 billion cubic meters | — |
| 2001 | 6.25 billion cubic meters | -13.1% |
| 2002 | 5.31 billion cubic meters | -15.0% |
| 2003 | 4.37 billion cubic meters | -17.7% |
| 2004 | 3.43 billion cubic meters | -21.5% |
| 2005 | 2.50 billion cubic meters | -27.3% |
| 2006 | 1.56 billion cubic meters | -37.6% |
| 2007 | 1.19 billion cubic meters | -23.3% |
| 2008 | 1.09 billion cubic meters | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 1.24 billion cubic meters | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 889.40 million cubic meters | -28.4% |
| 2011 | 672.20 million cubic meters | -24.4% |
| 2012 | 1.12 billion cubic meters | +66.9% |
| 2013 | 985.60 million cubic meters | -12.2% |
| 2014 | 849.20 million cubic meters | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 938.50 million cubic meters | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.01 billion cubic meters is above the median for high income countries, which is 668.45 million cubic meters, 1.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.01 billion cubic meters is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 806.76 million cubic meters, 1.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +66.9% | 672.20 million cubic meters | 1.12 billion cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.41 billion cubic meters | 1.09 billion cubic meters | 7.19 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 949.69 million cubic meters | 672.20 million cubic meters | 1.12 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.01 billion cubic meters | 1.01 billion cubic meters | 1.01 billion cubic meters | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.9496 % 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) -2.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.1556 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom?
- Industrial water withdrawal in United Kingdom was 1.01 billion 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 7.19 billion cubic meters in 2000.
- What is the lowest industrial water withdrawal recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 672.20 million cubic meters in 2011.
- How does United Kingdom rank for industrial water withdrawal?
- United Kingdom ranks 51st out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is industrial water withdrawal rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Water withdrawn each year by self-supplied industries.