Water withdrawals per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Water withdrawals per capita was 330.15 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
330.15 cubic meters per person
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
79th
of 180 countries
All-time high
338.66 cubic meters per person
in 2018
All-time low
271.25 cubic meters per person
in 2000
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Water withdrawals per capita in South Africa, 1990–2023
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 South Africa is 330.15 cubic meters per person, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in South Africa peaked at 338.66 cubic meters per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 271.25 cubic meters per person, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 79th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 326.63 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1991 | 317.3 cubic meters per person | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 309.73 cubic meters per person | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 301.75 cubic meters per person | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 295.05 cubic meters per person | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 289.66 cubic meters per person | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 285.44 cubic meters per person | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 281.56 cubic meters per person | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 277.69 cubic meters per person | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 274.21 cubic meters per person | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 271.25 cubic meters per person | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 273.31 cubic meters per person | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 275.07 cubic meters per person | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 276.64 cubic meters per person | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 278.12 cubic meters per person | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 279.52 cubic meters per person | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 280.85 cubic meters per person | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 282.02 cubic meters per person | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 282.86 cubic meters per person | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 283.53 cubic meters per person | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 284.18 cubic meters per person | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 284.62 cubic meters per person | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 284.32 cubic meters per person | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 283.47 cubic meters per person | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 307.22 cubic meters per person | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 328.96 cubic meters per person | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 332.7 cubic meters per person | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 336.25 cubic meters per person | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 338.66 cubic meters per person | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 317.18 cubic meters per person | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 316.84 cubic meters per person | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 312.13 cubic meters per person | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 322.36 cubic meters per person | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 330.15 cubic meters per person | +2.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 330.15 cubic meters per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 450.42 cubic meters per person, 73% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 330.15 cubic meters per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.54 cubic meters per person, 5.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 295.9 cubic meters per person | 274.21 cubic meters per person | 326.63 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 278.32 cubic meters per person | 271.25 cubic meters per person | 283.53 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 309.76 cubic meters per person | 283.47 cubic meters per person | 338.66 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 320.37 cubic meters per person | 312.13 cubic meters per person | 330.15 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 76 Austria 343.9 cubic meters per person compare
- 77 Georgia 339.69 cubic meters per person compare
- 78 Saint Kitts and Nevis 333.63 cubic meters per person compare
- 80 North Korea 327.72 cubic meters per person compare
- 81 El Salvador 323.09 cubic meters per person compare
- 82 Nepal 319.83 cubic meters per person compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.59 % 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 0.2953 % 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 South Africa?
- Water withdrawals per capita in South Africa was 330.15 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 338.66 cubic meters per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 271.25 cubic meters per person in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- South Africa ranks 79th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.