Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal was 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Change on year
up 12.0%
World rank
77th
of 179 countries
All-time high
36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 2022
All-time low
17.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 2002
Years of data
31
1992–2022
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2022
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 Saudi Arabia is 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 12.0% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Saudi Arabia peaked at 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022 and was at its lowest, 17.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, in 2002.
Saudi Arabia ranks 77th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 19.36 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | — |
| 1993 | 18.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 18.6 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 18.16 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 18.3 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 18.32 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 18.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 17.87 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 18.29 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 18.07 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 17.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 18.94 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 20.29 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 20.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 20.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 21.1 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 22.59 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 22.53 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 23.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 26.87 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +12.6% |
| 2012 | 28.64 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 29.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 30.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 30.45 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 31.61 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 31.1 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 31.51 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 32.03 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 30.81 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 32.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +12.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is below the median for high income countries, which is 108.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 34% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.08 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 17.87 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 19.36 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 8 |
| 2000s | 20.09 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 17.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 22.59 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.66 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 23.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 32.03 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.46 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 30.81 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 36.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 74 Nigeria 40.33 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 75 Portugal 37.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 76 Cameroon 37.03 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 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
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % 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 9.62 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Saudi Arabia was 36.75 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.75 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2002.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 77th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 — 31 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.