Water Use Efficiency in Europe and Northern America
Europe and Northern America: Water Use Efficiency was 56.62 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Water Use Efficiency in Europe and Northern America, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Europe and Northern America recorded 56.62 for water use efficiency in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Europe and Northern America peaked at 56.62 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 29.11, in 2000.
That places Europe and Northern America 6th out of 27 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Water Use Efficiency in Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.11 | — |
| 2001 | 29.87 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 30.55 | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 31.31 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 32.56 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 33.75 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 35.33 | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 37.4 | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 37.77 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.14 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 39.79 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 41.03 | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 42.23 | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 43.95 | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 45.09 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 47.74 | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 48.16 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 49.47 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 50.68 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 52 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 50.31 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 53.48 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 55.45 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 56.62 | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.58 | 29.11 | 38.14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.01 | 39.79 | 52 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.97 | 50.31 | 56.62 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe and Northern America
More environment data for Europe and Northern America
- Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by 61.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 62.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered 64.7% (2025)
- Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 58.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water 94.2% (2024)
- Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by 85.5% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, by 98.9% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location 98.0% (2024)
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of 11.3% (2023)
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area 3.9% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Europe and Northern America?
- Water use efficiency in Europe and Northern America was 56.62 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 56.62 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.11 in 2000.
- How does Europe and Northern America rank for water use efficiency?
- Europe and Northern America ranks 6th out of 27 groups with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Europe and Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe and Northern America 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).