Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in South America
South America: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of was 5.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in South 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 South America is 5.4%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in South America peaked at 6.2% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2000.
That places South America 22nd out of 28 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.8% | — |
| 2001 | 4.9% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 5.3% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 5.5% | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 6.2% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 5.8% | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 5.9% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 5.8% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South America
More environment data for South America
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Production 477.72 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 379.32 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 98.40 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 589,290 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 4.28 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in South America?
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in South America was 5.4% 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 2010.
- What is the lowest level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2000.
- How does South America rank for level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of?
- South America ranks 22nd out of 28 groups with data for 2023.
- Is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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).