Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia
Northern Africa and Western Asia: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of was 77.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2023, level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia stood at 77.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia peaked at 82.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 65.0%, in 2009.
Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 2nd of 28 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.1% | — |
| 2001 | 67.0% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 66.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 65.9% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 66.5% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 66.9% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 69.6% | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 67.1% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 65.0% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 67.1% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 66.5% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 72.8% | +9.5% |
| 2013 | 72.5% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 72.2% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 73.3% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 75.9% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 76.4% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 75.5% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 82.4% | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 80.2% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 78.7% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 77.9% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 77.7% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.2% | 65.0% | 69.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.5% | 66.5% | 82.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.6% | 77.7% | 80.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Northern Africa and Western Asia
- 1 Kuwait 3,850.5% compare
- 2 United Arab Emirates 1,437.3% compare
- 3 Saudi Arabia 974.2% compare
- 4 Libya 817.1% compare
- 5 Qatar 431.0% compare
More environment data for Northern Africa and Western Asia
- Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by 31.4% (2025)
- Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 29.3% (2025)
- Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered 27.2% (2025)
- Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 24.2% (2025)
- Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by 60.7% (2024)
- Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water 76.2% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, by 92.2% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location 91.0% (2024)
- Water Use Efficiency 13.29 (2023)
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area 94,246 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in Northern Africa and Western Asia was 77.7% 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 Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of recorded in Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.0% in 2009.
- How does Northern Africa and Western Asia rank for level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of?
- Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 2nd out of 28 groups with data for 2023.
- Is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of rising or falling in Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Northern Africa and Western Asia 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.
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