Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia
Australia: Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal was 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
29th
of 179 countries
All-time high
178.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 2020
All-time low
32.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 1994
Years of data
30
1993–2022
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia, 1993–2022
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (AQUASTAT), World Bank, and OECD (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia is 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 72.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia peaked at 178.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2020 and was at its lowest, 32.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, in 1994.
Australia ranks 29th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 35.41 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | — |
| 1994 | 32.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 35.74 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 33.26 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 34.92 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 36.74 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 38.77 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 40.4 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 41.46 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 44.54 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 47.51 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 51.3 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 54.9 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 60.2 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 66.97 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 74.77 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 82.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 89.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 91.79 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 79.46 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 67.6 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -14.9% |
| 2014 | 71.93 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 147.16 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +104.6% |
| 2016 | 131.24 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -10.8% |
| 2017 | 118.27 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 118.99 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 141.98 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +19.3% |
| 2020 | 178.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +25.8% |
| 2021 | 138.1 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -22.7% |
| 2022 | 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is above the median for high income countries, which is 108.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 1.3× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Australia's 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 4.7× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +104.6% | 71.93 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 147.16 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.31 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 32.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 38.77 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 7 |
| 2000s | 56.47 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 40.4 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 82.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2010s | 105.83 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 67.6 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 147.16 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2020s | 151.27 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 178.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 26 Germany 144.53 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 27 Brunei 141.31 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 28 Angola 141.29 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 30 Austria 136.3 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 31 Cyprus 132.72 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 32 Benin 128.97 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.0861 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia?
- Water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Australia was 137.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (AQUASTAT), World Bank, and OECD (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 178.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2020.
- What is the lowest water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 1994.
- How does Australia rank for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal?
- Australia ranks 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization (AQUASTAT), World Bank, and OECD (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Water productivity is calculated as total gross domestic product (GDP), measured in constant 2015 US$ divided by annual total water withdrawal.