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Freshwater withdrawal — all countries

Freshwater withdrawal — South Africa

Freshwater withdrawal in South Africa in 2022 — 21.11 km³. Ranked 35 in the world out of 179. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 58.8%.

2022 21 km³ +1.05% vs 2021
World rank 35of 179
Period maximum 21 km³2022
Period minimum 13 km³2000

Trend over time

1990–2022 · km³ per year

Freshwater withdrawal — South Africa, 1990–202213151820231990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 13.29 km³1991: 13.21 km³1992: 13.13 km³1993: 13.05 km³1994: 12.97 km³1995: 12.88 km³1996: 12.86 km³1997: 12.84 km³1998: 12.82 km³1999: 12.8 km³2000: 12.73 km³2001: 12.95 km³2002: 13.16 km³2003: 13.37 km³2004: 13.58 km³2005: 13.8 km³2006: 14.01 km³2007: 14.22 km³2008: 14.44 km³2009: 14.65 km³2010: 14.86 km³2011: 15.07 km³2012: 15.29 km³2013: 14.29 km³2014: 16.47 km³2015: 18.66 km³2016: 19.04 km³2017: 19.38 km³2018: 19.64 km³2019: 20 km³2020: 20.31 km³2021: 20.89 km³2022: 21.11 km³
Change over the period: +8 (+58.83%) Average annual rate: 1.46 %

Comparison, 2022

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

South Africa 21 km³
World 3,853 km³
Sub-Saharan Africa 133 km³
Southern Africa computed 23 km³
Upper-middle-income countries computed 1,368 km³
Freshwater withdrawal — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year km³ Change Change, %
2022 21 +0 +1.05%
2021 21 +1 +2.86%
2020 20 +0 +1.55%
2019 20 +0 +1.83%
2018 20 +0 +1.34%
2017 19 +0 +1.79%
2016 19 +0 +2.04%
2015 19 +2 +13.28%
2014 16 +2 +15.31%
2013 14 −1 −6.55%
2012 15 +0 +1.41%
2011 15 +0 +1.43%
2010 15 +0 +1.45%
2009 15 +0 +1.47%
2008 14 +0 +1.5%
2007 14 +0 +1.52%
2006 14 +0 +1.54%
2005 14 +0 +1.57%
2004 14 +0 +1.59%
2003 13 +0 +1.62%
2002 13 +0 +1.64%
2001 13 +0 +1.67%
2000 13 −0 −0.49%
1999 13 −0 −0.17%
1998 13 −0 −0.17%
1997 13 −0 −0.17%
1996 13 −0 −0.17%
1995 13 −0 −0.63%
1994 13 −0 −0.62%
1993 13 −0 −0.62%
1992 13 −0 −0.62%
1991 13 −0 −0.61%
1990 13 — —

Southern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

ZA South Africa 21 SZ Eswatini 1 BW Botswana 0 NA Namibia 0 LS Lesotho 0
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Annual freshwater withdrawal for all uses: irrigation, industry, municipal supply. More than two-thirds of global withdrawal goes to agriculture, so the volume is tied more closely to the area under irrigation than to the number of residents or the size of industry. Withdrawal is not consumption: part of the water returns to water bodies, though usually in worse condition.

Important: Withdrawal, not consumptive use. It can exceed a country's own renewable resources: the country then takes water from across the border, from non-renewable groundwater, or desalinates it.

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

Other indicators for South Africa

Environment Freshwater withdrawal as a share of resources

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

South Africa by year Environment Renewable water resources

How much water a country's own annual cycle gives it — with no inflow from abroad.

South Africa by year Agriculture Irrigated land

The share of agricultural land equipped for irrigation.

South Africa by year Environment Forest cover

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

South Africa by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

South Africa by year Environment Protected areas

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

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa