Global water withdrawals per capita 2021, by select country

Water withdrawals per capita in Turkmenistan amount to 2,740 cubic meters per inhabitant, according to the latest available data from 2021. This is a far higher volume than in many other countries, such as China, where per capita water withdrawals were 398.7 cubic meters as of 2021. 

Global water withdrawals

Countries around the world withdraw huge volumes of water each year from sources such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater. China has some of the largest annual total water withdrawals across the globe, at 581.3 billion cubic meters per year. In comparison, Mexico withdrew almost 90 billion cubic meters of water in 2021.

Water scarcity

Although roughly 70 percent of Earth's surface is covered with water, less than one percent of the planet's total water resources can be classified as accessible freshwater resources. Growing populations, increased demand, and climate change are increasingly putting pressure on these precious resources. This is expected to lead to global water shortages around the world. In the United States, the megadrought in the west has seen water levels of major reservoirs that provide water to millions of people plummet to record lows. In order to prevent severe droughts in water-stressed areas today and in the future, a more efficient use of water is essential.