Water withdrawals per capita in Denmark
Denmark: Water withdrawals per capita was 165.56 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Water withdrawals per capita in Denmark, 1970–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters per person.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 165.56 cubic meters per person for water withdrawals per capita in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in Denmark peaked at 333.41 cubic meters per person in 1985 and was at its lowest, 104.51 cubic meters per person, in 2007.
Denmark ranks 119th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in Denmark, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 146.08 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1971 | 164.62 cubic meters per person | +12.7% |
| 1972 | 183.11 cubic meters per person | +11.2% |
| 1973 | 201.32 cubic meters per person | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 219.6 cubic meters per person | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 238.12 cubic meters per person | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 237.54 cubic meters per person | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 236.81 cubic meters per person | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 236.07 cubic meters per person | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 235.5 cubic meters per person | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 235.21 cubic meters per person | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 254.8 cubic meters per person | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 274.53 cubic meters per person | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 294.26 cubic meters per person | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 313.98 cubic meters per person | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 333.41 cubic meters per person | +6.2% |
| 1986 | 298.08 cubic meters per person | -10.6% |
| 1987 | 262.98 cubic meters per person | -11.8% |
| 1988 | 228.09 cubic meters per person | -13.3% |
| 1989 | 236.81 cubic meters per person | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 245.28 cubic meters per person | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 233.31 cubic meters per person | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 221.24 cubic meters per person | -5.2% |
| 1993 | 209.24 cubic meters per person | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 197.31 cubic meters per person | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 185.12 cubic meters per person | -6.2% |
| 1996 | 186.46 cubic meters per person | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 176.44 cubic meters per person | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 171.71 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 155.53 cubic meters per person | -9.4% |
| 2000 | 139.44 cubic meters per person | -10.3% |
| 2001 | 131.79 cubic meters per person | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 124.24 cubic meters per person | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 122.58 cubic meters per person | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 125.15 cubic meters per person | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 118.79 cubic meters per person | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 128.07 cubic meters per person | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 104.51 cubic meters per person | -18.4% |
| 2008 | 125.32 cubic meters per person | +19.9% |
| 2009 | 117.41 cubic meters per person | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 129.49 cubic meters per person | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 133.5 cubic meters per person | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 127.95 cubic meters per person | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 147.73 cubic meters per person | +15.5% |
| 2014 | 144.52 cubic meters per person | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 142.83 cubic meters per person | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 154.85 cubic meters per person | +8.4% |
| 2017 | 155.38 cubic meters per person | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 190.86 cubic meters per person | +22.8% |
| 2019 | 162.62 cubic meters per person | -14.8% |
| 2020 | 162.44 cubic meters per person | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 164.72 cubic meters per person | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 162.16 cubic meters per person | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 165.56 cubic meters per person | +2.1% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 165.56 cubic meters per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 376.78 cubic meters per person, 44% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 165.56 cubic meters per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 419.39 cubic meters per person, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 209.88 cubic meters per person | 146.08 cubic meters per person | 238.12 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 273.22 cubic meters per person | 228.09 cubic meters per person | 333.41 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 198.16 cubic meters per person | 155.53 cubic meters per person | 245.28 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 123.73 cubic meters per person | 104.51 cubic meters per person | 139.44 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 148.97 cubic meters per person | 127.95 cubic meters per person | 190.86 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 163.72 cubic meters per person | 162.16 cubic meters per person | 165.56 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
- 116 Sao Tome and Principe 177.16 cubic meters per person compare
- 117 Eritrea 167.71 cubic meters per person compare
- 118 Senegal 167.12 cubic meters per person compare
- 120 Jamaica 162.98 cubic meters per person compare
- 121 Belarus 157.42 cubic meters per person compare
- 122 Malaysia 156.24 cubic meters per person compare
More environment data for Denmark
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.66 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.696 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.29 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.75 % 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 0.0189 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water withdrawals per capita in Denmark?
- Water withdrawals per capita in Denmark was 165.56 cubic meters per person in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 333.41 cubic meters per person in 1985.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 104.51 cubic meters per person in 2007.
- How does Denmark rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- Denmark ranks 119th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Water withdrawals per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, divided by the population.