Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World
World: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of was 17.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World is 17.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World peaked at 18.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 2000.
That places World 16th out of 28 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.5% | — |
| 2001 | 17.6% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 17.8% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 17.9% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 18.1% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 18.1% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 18.0% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 18.0% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 17.9% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 18.0% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 18.0% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 18.0% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 18.0% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 17.8% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 17.8% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 17.8% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.0% | 17.5% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.0% | 17.8% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.7% | 17.6% | 17.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
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- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.208 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.88 °C (2025)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs — Production, annual growth rate 1.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs, non-coniferous — Production, annual growth 1.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other industrial roundwood — Production, annual growth rate 1.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other industrial roundwood, non-coniferous (production) — Production 2.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Wood charcoal — Production, annual growth rate 1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World?
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of in World was 17.6% 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 2000.
- How does World rank for level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of?
- World ranks 16th out of 28 groups with data for 2023.
- Is level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this World 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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