Water Use Efficiency in Southern Asia
Southern Asia: Water Use Efficiency was 3.78 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Water Use Efficiency in Southern Asia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water use efficiency in Southern Asia is 3.78, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Southern Asia peaked at 3.78 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.21, in 2000.
That places Southern Asia 27th out of 27 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Water Use Efficiency in Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.21 | — |
| 2001 | 1.29 | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 1.34 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 1.42 | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.53 | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 1.63 | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 1.73 | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 1.83 | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 1.82 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 1.9 | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 2 | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 2.1 | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 2.18 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 2.28 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 2.43 | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 2.56 | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 2.74 | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 2.91 | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 3.07 | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 3.18 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 3.1 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 3.36 | +8.4% |
| 2022 | 3.56 | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 3.78 | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.57 | 1.21 | 1.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.54 | 2 | 3.18 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.45 | 3.1 | 3.78 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Southern Asia
More environment data for Southern Asia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.4009 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 6.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.274 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.44 °C (2025)
- Total fibre furnish — Production 15.39 million t (2024)
- Recovered paper — Production 8.45 million t (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Production 24.03 million t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Production 18.27 million t (2024)
- Nutrient phosphate P2O5 (total) — Use per area of cropland 44.63 kg/ha (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Southern Asia?
- Water use efficiency in Southern Asia was 3.78 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.78 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 in 2000.
- How does Southern Asia rank for water use efficiency?
- Southern Asia ranks 27th out of 27 groups with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Asia 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).