Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal was 388.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
388.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
9th
of 179 countries
All-time high
395.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 2014
All-time low
97.68 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 United Kingdom, 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
The most recent figure for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom is 388.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom peaked at 395.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2014 and was at its lowest, 97.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom 9th out of 179 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 97.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | — |
| 1981 | 99.3 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 104.54 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 111.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.0% |
| 1984 | 118.63 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 127.13 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 131.05 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 135.81 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 141.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 143.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 143.22 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 141.2 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 142.87 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 147.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 154.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 160.1 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 163.22 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 170.09 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 174.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 178.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 185.38 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 188.62 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 190.65 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 195.57 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 198.89 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 203.19 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 206.37 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 323.3 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +56.7% |
| 2008 | 329.57 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 316.96 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 324.79 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 352.23 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 342.81 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 365.38 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 395.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 360.98 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 357.59 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 368.4 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 374.12 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 378.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 340.76 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 369.87 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 388.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +5.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 388.91 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, 3.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 388.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59.2 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 6.6× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +56.7% | 206.37 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 323.3 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 121.07 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 97.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 143.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 1990s | 157.62 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 141.2 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 178.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2000s | 233.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 185.38 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 329.57 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2010s | 362.1 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 324.79 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 395.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2020s | 366.51 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 340.76 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 388.91 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 6 Equatorial Guinea 503.19 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 7 Switzerland 480.89 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 8 Malta 455.56 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 10 Denmark 373.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 11 Antigua and Barbuda 366.28 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 12 Ireland 304.71 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.47 % 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 -0.8735 % 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 -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom?
- Water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in United Kingdom was 388.91 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 395.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2014.
- What is the lowest water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal?
- United Kingdom ranks 9th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 43 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.