Water withdrawals per capita in Ireland
Ireland: Water withdrawals per capita was 376.78 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
376.78 cubic meters per person
Change on year
up 15.1%
World rank
73rd
of 180 countries
All-time high
376.78 cubic meters per person
in 2023
All-time low
166.15 cubic meters per person
in 2007
Years of data
44
1980–2023
Water withdrawals per capita in Ireland, 1980–2023
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
The most recent figure for water withdrawals per capita in Ireland is 376.78 cubic meters per person, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is up 15.1% on the previous year and up 72.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in Ireland peaked at 376.78 cubic meters per person in 2023 and was at its lowest, 166.15 cubic meters per person, in 2007.
That places Ireland 73rd out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in Ireland, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 313.3 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1981 | 312.45 cubic meters per person | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 312.22 cubic meters per person | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 312.42 cubic meters per person | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 312.94 cubic meters per person | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 313.73 cubic meters per person | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 314.93 cubic meters per person | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 317.2 cubic meters per person | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 320.72 cubic meters per person | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 324.16 cubic meters per person | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 326.04 cubic meters per person | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 326.32 cubic meters per person | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 326.23 cubic meters per person | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 326.73 cubic meters per person | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 327.56 cubic meters per person | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 317.7 cubic meters per person | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 307.33 cubic meters per person | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 296.63 cubic meters per person | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 285.75 cubic meters per person | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 274.86 cubic meters per person | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 263.68 cubic meters per person | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 252.08 cubic meters per person | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 240.52 cubic meters per person | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 244.24 cubic meters per person | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 247.31 cubic meters per person | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 192.28 cubic meters per person | -22.3% |
| 2006 | 218.64 cubic meters per person | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 166.15 cubic meters per person | -24.0% |
| 2008 | 193.28 cubic meters per person | +16.3% |
| 2009 | 166.97 cubic meters per person | -13.6% |
| 2010 | 202.22 cubic meters per person | +21.1% |
| 2011 | 205.36 cubic meters per person | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 208.47 cubic meters per person | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 218.58 cubic meters per person | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 228.14 cubic meters per person | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 226.6 cubic meters per person | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 232.56 cubic meters per person | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 273.75 cubic meters per person | +17.7% |
| 2018 | 313.61 cubic meters per person | +14.6% |
| 2019 | 311.28 cubic meters per person | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 309.88 cubic meters per person | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 314.41 cubic meters per person | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 327.4 cubic meters per person | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 376.78 cubic meters per person | +15.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 376.78 cubic meters per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 376.78 cubic meters per person, 1.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 376.78 cubic meters per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 419.39 cubic meters per person, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 315.41 cubic meters per person | 312.22 cubic meters per person | 324.16 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 311.52 cubic meters per person | 274.86 cubic meters per person | 327.56 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 218.52 cubic meters per person | 166.15 cubic meters per person | 263.68 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 242.06 cubic meters per person | 202.22 cubic meters per person | 313.61 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 332.12 cubic meters per person | 309.88 cubic meters per person | 376.78 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.412 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.13 % 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 -0.0083 % 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 Ireland?
- Water withdrawals per capita in Ireland was 376.78 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 376.78 cubic meters per person in 2023.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 166.15 cubic meters per person in 2007.
- How does Ireland rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- Ireland ranks 73rd out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, divided by the population.