Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in China
China: Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal was 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
81st
of 179 countries
All-time high
29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 2022
All-time low
0.9656 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 1980
Years of data
43
1980–2022
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in China, 1980–2022
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
In 2022, water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in China stood at 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 93.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in China peaked at 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.9656 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, in 1980.
That places China 81st out of 179 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 China, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.9656 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | — |
| 1981 | 0.9962 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 1.07 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.0% |
| 1983 | 1.16 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 1.31 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +13.2% |
| 1985 | 1.48 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +12.5% |
| 1986 | 1.6 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.1% |
| 1987 | 1.77 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 1.95 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.4% |
| 1989 | 2.02 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 2.08 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 2.24 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 2.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +12.4% |
| 1993 | 2.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +12.1% |
| 1994 | 3.17 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 3.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.3% |
| 1996 | 3.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.2% |
| 1997 | 4.14 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 4.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 4.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 5.13 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.9% |
| 2001 | 5.55 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 6.05 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.1% |
| 2003 | 6.66 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.0% |
| 2004 | 7.32 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 8.15 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +11.3% |
| 2006 | 8.96 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 10.22 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +14.0% |
| 2008 | 11.06 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 11.96 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 13.14 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 14.19 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 15.2 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 16.28 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 17.77 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 19.06 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 19.94 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 21.59 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 23.18 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 24.64 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 26.25 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 28.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.88 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 29.39 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, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.43 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 0.9656 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 2.02 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 2.08 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 4.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.11 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 5.13 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 11.96 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.5 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 13.14 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 24.64 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.04 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 26.25 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
- 78 Togo 35.12 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 79 Hungary 33.73 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 80 Mongolia 31.23 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 82 Dominica 28.7 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 83 Romania 28.22 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 84 Central African Republic 28.05 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in China?
- Water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in China was 29.39 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 29.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022.
- What is the lowest water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9656 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 1980.
- How does China rank for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal?
- China ranks 81st out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 93.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.
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About this data
Water productivity is calculated as total gross domestic product (GDP), measured in constant 2015 US$ divided by annual total water withdrawal.