Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America
Europe and Northern America: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of was 11.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America is 11.3%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America peaked at 14.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 2022.
Europe and Northern America ranks 18th of 28 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.2% | — |
| 2001 | 14.1% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 14.1% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 14.1% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 14.0% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 13.8% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 13.4% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 12.9% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 12.2% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 11.5% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 11.5% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 11.5% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 11.3% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 11.4% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 11.3% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 11.3% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.8% | 12.9% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 11.5% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.3% | 11.3% | 11.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe and Northern America
More environment data for Europe and Northern America
- Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by 61.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 62.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered 64.7% (2025)
- Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 58.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by 85.5% (2024)
- Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water 94.2% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, by 98.9% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location 98.0% (2024)
- Water Use Efficiency 56.62 (2023)
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area 371,815 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America?
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Europe and Northern America was 11.3% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2022.
- How does Europe and Northern America rank for level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of?
- Europe and Northern America ranks 18th out of 28 groups with data for 2023.
- Is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of rising or falling in Europe and Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe and Northern America data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).