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Water resources per capita — all countries

Water resources per capita — South America

Water resources per capita in South America in 2022 — 29,578 m³/person. Since 1961, the indicator has fallen by 64.5%.

2022 29,578 m³/person −0.5% vs 2021
World rank —
Period maximum 83,421 m³/person1961
Period minimum 29,578 m³/person2022

Trend over time

1961–2022 · m³ per capita

Water resources per capita — South America, 1961–202220,00040,00060,00080,000100,00019611968197519821989199620032010201720221961: 83,421 m³/person1963: 79,018 m³/person1965: 74,960 m³/person1967: 71,273 m³/person1969: 67,911 m³/person1971: 64,822 m³/person1973: 61,913 m³/person1975: 59,177 m³/person1977: 56,582 m³/person1979: 54,096 m³/person1981: 51,738 m³/person1983: 49,527 m³/person1985: 47,471 m³/person1987: 45,596 m³/person1989: 43,869 m³/person1991: 42,285 m³/person1993: 40,837 m³/person1995: 39,503 m³/person1997: 38,268 m³/person1999: 37,109 m³/person2001: 36,082 m³/person2003: 35,171 m³/person2005: 34,344 m³/person2007: 33,589 m³/person2009: 32,907 m³/person2011: 32,275 m³/person2013: 31,670 m³/person2015: 31,084 m³/person2017: 30,531 m³/person2019: 30,062 m³/person2021: 29,727 m³/person2022: 29,578 m³/person
Change over the period: −53,843 (−64.54%) Average annual rate: -1.69 %

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South America

South America 29,578 m³/person
World 5,393 m³/person
Water resources per capita — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year m³/person Change Change, %
2022 29,578 −149 −0.5%
2021 29,727 −148 −0.49%
2020 29,874 −188 −0.62%
2019 30,062 −222 −0.73%
2018 30,284 −246 −0.81%
2017 30,531 −269 −0.87%
2016 30,800 −284 −0.91%
2015 31,084 −291 −0.93%
2014 31,375 −295 −0.93%
2013 31,670 −299 −0.94%
2012 31,970 −306 −0.95%
2011 32,275 −312 −0.96%
2010 32,587 −320 −0.97%
2009 32,907 −333 −1%
2008 33,240 −349 −1.04%
2007 33,589 −368 −1.08%
2006 33,957 −387 −1.13%
2005 34,344 −405 −1.16%
2004 34,749 −422 −1.2%
2003 35,171 −443 −1.24%
2002 35,614 −468 −1.3%
2001 36,082 −496 −1.36%
2000 36,579 −530 −1.43%
1999 37,109 −568 −1.51%
1998 37,677 −592 −1.55%
1997 38,268 −606 −1.56%
1996 38,874 −629 −1.59%
1995 39,503 −655 −1.63%
1994 40,158 −679 −1.66%
1993 40,837 −710 −1.71%
1992 41,546 −738 −1.75%
1991 42,285 −771 −1.79%
1990 43,056 −813 −1.85%
1989 43,869 −846 −1.89%
1988 44,715 −881 −1.93%
1987 45,596 −917 −1.97%
1986 46,513 −958 −2.02%
1985 47,471 −1,005 −2.07%
1984 48,476 −1,051 −2.12%
1983 49,527 −1,089 −2.15%
1982 50,615 −1,123 −2.17%
1981 51,738 −1,162 −2.2%
1980 52,900 −1,196 −2.21%
1979 54,096 −1,226 −2.22%
1978 55,322 −1,260 −2.23%
1977 56,582 −1,286 −2.22%
1976 57,867 −1,310 −2.21%
1975 59,177 −1,346 −2.22%
1974 60,523 −1,390 −2.24%
1973 61,913 −1,433 −2.26%
1972 63,346 −1,476 −2.28%
1971 64,822 −1,516 −2.29%
1970 66,338 −1,573 −2.32%
1969 67,911 −1,645 −2.37%
1968 69,557 −1,716 −2.41%
1967 71,273 −1,798 −2.46%
1966 73,072 −1,888 −2.52%
1965 74,960 −1,982 −2.58%
1964 76,942 −2,076 −2.63%
1963 79,018 −2,163 −2.66%
1962 81,181 −2,240 −2.69%
1961 83,421 — —

About the indicator

Internal renewable water resources divided by the population. This is the conventional measure of water scarcity: below 1,700 cubic meters per person a year indicates water stress, below 1,000 scarcity, and below 500 absolute scarcity. The value falls even where the water itself does not diminish — simply from population growth — and the series shows which countries are entering scarcity demographically.

Important: The aggregate for a group is all of its water resources divided by all of its population. The thresholds of 1,700, 1,000 and 500 m³ are widely used benchmarks, not an official classification.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for South America

Environment Renewable water resources

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How much water is withdrawn relative to the internal resources available.

South America by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

South America by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

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The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

South America by year
All indicators for South America