Water Use Efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Water Use Efficiency was 5 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Water Use Efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water use efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is 5, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 7.1% on the previous year and up 44.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) peaked at 5 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.2, in 2000.
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ranks 23rd of 27 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Water Use Efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.2 | — |
| 2001 | 2.3 | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 2.37 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 2.49 | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 2.65 | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 2.78 | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 2.95 | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 3.16 | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 2.72 | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 2.79 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 2.98 | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 3.08 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 3.26 | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 3.45 | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 3.63 | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 3.73 | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 3.84 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 4.01 | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 4.21 | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 4.4 | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 4.37 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 4.49 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 4.67 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 5 | +7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.64 | 2.2 | 3.16 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.66 | 2.98 | 4.4 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.63 | 4.37 | 5 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
More environment data for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.229 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.29 °C (2025)
- Agriculture — Area 836,181 1000 ha (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Use per capita 0.82 kg/cap (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Use per value of agricultural production 3.21 g/Int$ (2024)
- Country area — Area 2.08 million 1000 ha (2024)
- Land area — Area 2.04 million 1000 ha (2024)
- Cropland — Share in Land area 11 % (2024)
- Cropland — Share in Agricultural land 26.79 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
- Water use efficiency in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was 5 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
- The highest recorded value was 5 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2 in 2000.
- How does Least Developed Countries (LDCs) rank for water use efficiency?
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ranks 23rd out of 27 groups with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 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).