Water Use Efficiency in Europe
Europe: Water Use Efficiency was 69.85 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Water Use Efficiency in Europe, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2023, water use efficiency in Europe stood at 69.85. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Europe peaked at 69.85 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 37.1, in 2000.
That places Europe 5th 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.1 | — |
| 2001 | 38.89 | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 40.13 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 41.12 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 43.11 | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 44.86 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 46.14 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 49.58 | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 48.07 | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 49.14 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 50.44 | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 51.89 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 52.68 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 55.21 | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 54.97 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 58.43 | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 59.01 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 60.95 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 61.99 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 63.66 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 61.08 | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 65.43 | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 68.96 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 69.85 | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.81 | 37.1 | 49.58 | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.92 | 50.44 | 63.66 | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.33 | 61.08 | 69.85 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe
- 2 Singapore 1,013 compare
- 3 Switzerland 448.02 compare
- 4 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 337.07 compare
- 4 United Kingdom 337.07 compare
- 6 Denmark 325.78 compare
- 7 Malta 264.7 compare
- 8 Sweden 245.58 compare
More environment data for Europe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.33 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.435 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.71 °C (2025)
- Total fibre furnish — Production 101.18 million t (2024)
- Recovered paper — Production 57.94 million t (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Production 94.14 million t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Production 73.33 million t (2024)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland 49.53 kg/ha (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Europe?
- Water use efficiency in Europe was 69.85 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 69.85 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1 in 2000.
- How does Europe rank for water use efficiency?
- Europe ranks 5th out of 27 groups with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe 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).