Water Use Efficiency in Australia
Australia: Water Use Efficiency was 81.84 USD/m3 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
81.84 USD/m3
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
33rd
of 183 countries
All-time high
92.37 USD/m3
in 2020
All-time low
50.44 USD/m3
in 2006
Years of data
18
2006–2023
Water Use Efficiency in Australia, 2006–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in USD/m3.
Analysis
In 2023, water use efficiency in Australia stood at 81.84 USD/m3.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Australia peaked at 92.37 USD/m3 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 50.44 USD/m3, in 2006.
That places Australia 33rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Water Use Efficiency in Australia, year by year
| Year | USD/m3 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 50.44 USD/m3 | — |
| 2007 | 56.02 USD/m3 | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 62.15 USD/m3 | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 68.61 USD/m3 | +10.4% |
| 2010 | 72.5 USD/m3 | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 77.57 USD/m3 | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 66.18 USD/m3 | -14.7% |
| 2013 | 54.96 USD/m3 | -17.0% |
| 2014 | 59.28 USD/m3 | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 65.23 USD/m3 | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 67.95 USD/m3 | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 68.5 USD/m3 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 68.63 USD/m3 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 78.38 USD/m3 | +14.2% |
| 2020 | 92.37 USD/m3 | +17.8% |
| 2021 | 79.17 USD/m3 | -14.3% |
| 2022 | 77.89 USD/m3 | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 81.84 USD/m3 | +5.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 81.84 USD/m3 is above the median for high income countries, which is 71.58 USD/m3, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Australia's 81.84 USD/m3 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 27.01 USD/m3, 3.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 59.3 USD/m3 | 50.44 USD/m3 | 68.61 USD/m3 | 4 |
| 2010s | 67.92 USD/m3 | 54.96 USD/m3 | 78.38 USD/m3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.82 USD/m3 | 77.89 USD/m3 | 92.37 USD/m3 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Australia?
- Water use efficiency in Australia was 81.84 USD/m3 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 92.37 USD/m3 in 2020.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.44 USD/m3 in 2006.
- How does Australia rank for water use efficiency?
- Australia ranks 33rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Water Use Efficiency (United States dollars per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).