Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Canada
Canada: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 36.13 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Canada, 1986–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in billion cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2022, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Canada stood at 36.13 billion cubic meters.
The figure is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Canada peaked at 45.09 billion cubic meters in 1991 and was at its lowest, 35.6 billion cubic meters, in 2011.
That places Canada 19th out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.07 billion cubic meters | 42.2 billion cubic meters | 43.94 billion cubic meters | 4 |
| 1990s | 43.26 billion cubic meters | 41.97 billion cubic meters | 45.09 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.17 billion cubic meters | 38.8 billion cubic meters | 41.89 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.35 billion cubic meters | 35.6 billion cubic meters | 37.28 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.17 billion cubic meters | 36.13 billion cubic meters | 36.25 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More climate change data for Canada
- Population growth 0.9% (2025)
- Population, total 41.65 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.2% (2025)
- Urban population 34.52 million (2025)
- Urban population 82.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 44.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 1.3% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 12.9% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 11.6% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 9.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Canada?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in Canada was 36.13 billion cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 45.09 billion cubic meters in 1991.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.6 billion cubic meters in 2011.
- How does Canada rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- Canada ranks 19th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (billion cubic meters). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins. Withdrawals also include water from desalination plants in countries where they are a significant source. Withdrawals can exceed 100 percent of total renewable resources where extraction from nonrenewable aquifers or desalination plants is considerable or where there is significant water reuse. Withdrawals for agriculture and industry are total withdrawals for irrigation and livestock production and for direct industrial use (including withdrawals for cooling thermoelectric plants). Withdrawals for domestic uses include drinking water, municipal use or supply, and use for public services, commercial establishments, and homes.