In the guide below, we provide an overview of the countries that use the most fresh water – both in total volume, and also per capita.
We also look at how much water other countries in the world use.
It’s complimentary to our separate guide on the Earth’s freshwater resources and supplies.
Summary – Which Countries Use The Most Water
Countries That Withdraw The Most Water – Total Volume
Two sets of data both indicate that India withdraws the most water (in total volume) of all countries, followed by China, and then the US
Countries That Withdraw Or Use The Most Water – Per Capita
This can change yearly as population and water use/water withdrawal numbers change
Different sets of data show different countries as leading countries for per capita water use and withdrawals
The US is considered a leading per capita water user amongst developed countries by several reports, and is far above the global average
Some reports suggest that the higher consumption of products like meat and sugar in countries like the US compared to other countries might lead to a higher per capita water consumption
Regions That Withdraw The Most Water – Per Capita
South America and Oceania might be the regions that withdraw the most renewable freshwater, and Sub Saharan Africa the least
How Much Water Different Countries Use
We’ve included some more information on how much water different countries use in the guide below
How Different Countries Use Water Across The Different Sectors In Society
Agriculture uses the most water of all industries in terms of global average.
However, individual countries may withdraw more water for industry than agriculture, just as one example.
Read more about water use across the different industries here, and across the different sectors of society here
Which Countries Withdraw The Most Water? – Total Volume
Two sets of data both indicate that India withdraws the most water (in total volume) of all countries, followed by China, and then the US
According to statista.com, in 2018, the countries that withdrew the most water in billions of cubic meters, were:
[India at 761, followed by China at 598.1, and then the US at 444.3]
According to ourworldindata.org, in 2014:
India had the largest freshwater withdrawals at over 760 billion cubic metres per year.
[… China was second at 600 billion m3 and, the United States third at 490 billion m3]
Which Country Withdraws Or Uses The Most Water? – Per Capita
This changes with each year as population numbers change, and water consumption and withdrawal numbers change
Different sets of data also show different countries leading per capita water use and withdrawals
One set of data had Colombia as the leading country, another had Turkmenistan, another had Iceland, and another has the US
Of the major developed countries, the US is a leading per capita water user according to several reports. It is far above the global average according to one report
One report indicates that higher consumption of products like meat and sugar might increase the per capita water footprint of a country, and the US might be an example of this, compared to India which consumes less meat
Countries That Withdraw The Most Water, Per Capita
According to statista.com, in 2020, the countries that withdrew the most water in cubic meters per capita, were:
Colombia – 3022 (in 2015)
United States – 1207 (in 2015)
Greece – 945
According to worldometers.info, the countries with the highest daily water used per capita, in liters (no year given though), are:
Turkmenistan – 16,281
Chile – 5935
Guyana – 5283
Per ourworldindata.org, in 2010, the biggest users of freshwater per person were:
Iceland – 11,042 cubic metres (per person, per year)
Turkmenistan – 5,753 cubic metres
Chile – 2152 cubic metres
US vs Global Average Per Capita Water Footprint
From scientificamerican.com:
… The U.S. had the world’s highest per capita water footprint, at 2,842 cubic meters per annum
[For context] The global annual average per capita is 1,385 cubic meters
US vs Canada Average Per Capita, Per Day Water Use
Canadians currently use an average of 329 litres of water per person, per day — second only to the United States in the developed world, and more than twice as much as Europeans (jewel885.com)
US vs Japan vs China Water Footprint, Per Capita
wikipedia.org outlines that the US has a much higher per capita water footprint than China or Japan:
The water footprint of US citizens is 2840 cubic meter per year per capita … [whilst Japan comes in at 1380, and China 1070]
US vs UK Per Capita Water Use, Per Person
In the UK, the average person uses 39 gallons per day compared to the American’s 110 gallons (conservationfolks.com)
Potential Impact Of Meat & Sugar Consumption On Per Capita Water Use In Countries
From scientificamerican.com:
Meat consumption accounts for 30 percent of the American [per capita water footprint figure], and sugar consumption is responsible for another 15 percent …
[India’s] individual footprint is only 1,089 cubic meters a year [and India is a country where people consume less meat]
Which Region Withdraws The Most Water? – Per Capita
South America and Oceania might be the regions that withdraw the most renewable freshwater of all regions in the world
Sub Saharan Africa might have one of the lowest rates of withdrawals
Fresh Water Withdrawals Per Capita, By Region
According to ourworldindata.org the regions with the highest renewable freshwater, in terms of the average amount of water per person, per year (in cubic metres), are:
South America – 30,428
Oceania – 29,225
Eastern Europe – 21,383
[After Eastern Europe is North America at 12,537, followed by Central America and Caribbean, Western & Central Europe, and then Sub Saharan Africa]
How Much Water Does The United States Use?
According to the different reports above, the US might withdraw 450 to 500 billion cubic meters of water a year (in total volume)
How Much Water Does China Use?
According to the different reports above, China might withdraw around 600 billion cubic meters of water a year (in total volume)
How Much Water Does India Use?
According to the different reports above, India might withdraw 760 billion cubic meters of water a year (in total volume)
How Much Water Does The United Kingdom Use?
[Britain uses] in the order of 840 billion litres each year (energysavingtrust.org.uk)
How Much Water Does Canada Use?
statcan.gc.ca has Canadian water use stats broken down by the sectors and their volume of water use in their guide
How Much Water Does Australia Use?
We provide information on how much water Australia uses in this guide.
Sources
1. Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2018) – “Water Access, Resources & Sanitation”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/water-access-resources-sanitation’ [Online Resource]
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_water_supply_and_sanitation_in_the_United_States
3. http://www.gracelinks.org/210/how-the-united-states-uses-water
4. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wateruse-diagrams.html
5. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water
6. https://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wuin.html
7. https://water.usgs.gov/watuse/
8. https://www.ge.com/reports/global-thirst-water-use-industry/
9. http://www.worldometers.info/water/
10. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/other/industrial/index.html
11. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/saline.html (saline water withdrawal)
12. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4610.0 (includes a good diagram showing water withdrawal, use and discharge within the Australian economy)
13. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Latestproducts/4610.0Main%20Features32015-16?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4610.0&issue=2015-16&num=&view=
14. https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/inland-water/topic/2016/australias-water-use
15. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130124043757/http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/environment/green-economy/scptb10-wateruse/
16. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/dai/smr08/2017/smr08_215_2017
17. https://conservationfolks.com/stats-water-waste-around-the-world/
18. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/graphic-science-how-much-water-nations-consume/?redirect=1
19. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/freshwater-supply-usage-around-the-world-how-much-freshwater-we-have-how-much-we-use-how-we-use-it/
20. https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/reports/AtHomewithWater%287%29.pdf
21. https://jewel885.com/2018/03/14/canadians-rank-2nd-behind-u-s-per-capita-water-consumption-much-use-read/
22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_water
23. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263156/water-consumption-in-selected-countries/
24. https://www.statista.com/statistics/260374/total-water-withdrawal-per-capita/
25. https://www.worldometers.info/water/
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