Water Use Efficiency in China
China: Water Use Efficiency was 27.6 USD/m3 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
27.6 USD/m3
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
75th
of 183 countries
All-time high
27.6 USD/m3
in 2023
All-time low
4.68 USD/m3
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Water Use Efficiency in China, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in USD/m3.
Analysis
In 2023, water use efficiency in China stood at 27.6 USD/m3. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 84.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in China peaked at 27.6 USD/m3 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.68 USD/m3, in 2000.
China ranks 75th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Water Use Efficiency in China, year by year
| Year | USD/m3 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.68 USD/m3 | — |
| 2001 | 5.08 USD/m3 | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 5.55 USD/m3 | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 6.13 USD/m3 | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 6.63 USD/m3 | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 7.3 USD/m3 | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 8.28 USD/m3 | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 9.14 USD/m3 | +10.4% |
| 2008 | 9.72 USD/m3 | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 10.67 USD/m3 | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 11.9 USD/m3 | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 12.87 USD/m3 | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 14.01 USD/m3 | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 15 USD/m3 | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 16.32 USD/m3 | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 17.51 USD/m3 | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 18.95 USD/m3 | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 20.31 USD/m3 | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 21.83 USD/m3 | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 23.11 USD/m3 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 24.43 USD/m3 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 26.06 USD/m3 | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 26.48 USD/m3 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 27.6 USD/m3 | +4.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 27.6 USD/m3 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.91 USD/m3, 2.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- China's 27.6 USD/m3 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 27.01 USD/m3, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.32 USD/m3 | 4.68 USD/m3 | 10.67 USD/m3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.18 USD/m3 | 11.9 USD/m3 | 23.11 USD/m3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.14 USD/m3 | 24.43 USD/m3 | 27.6 USD/m3 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
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)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in China?
- Water use efficiency in China was 27.6 USD/m3 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 27.6 USD/m3 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.68 USD/m3 in 2000.
- How does China rank for water use efficiency?
- China ranks 75th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 84.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).