Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in India
India: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 647.5 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in India, 1975–2022
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 India stood at 647.5 billion cubic meters.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in India peaked at 655.58 billion cubic meters in 2003 and was at its lowest, 380 billion cubic meters, in 1975.
That places India 1st out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 403.34 billion cubic meters | 380 billion cubic meters | 426.68 billion cubic meters | 5 |
| 1980s | 479.86 billion cubic meters | 438.35 billion cubic meters | 499.34 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 549.68 billion cubic meters | 500 billion cubic meters | 599.36 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 633.9 billion cubic meters | 610.4 billion cubic meters | 655.58 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 647.5 billion cubic meters | 647.5 billion cubic meters | 647.5 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 647.5 billion cubic meters | 647.5 billion cubic meters | 647.5 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
More climate change data for India
- Population growth 0.9% (2025)
- Population, total 1.46 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.8% (2025)
- Urban population 522.44 million (2025)
- Urban population 35.7% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 17.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 44.8% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 7.7% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 4.5% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 0.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in India?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in India was 647.5 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 655.58 billion cubic meters in 2003.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 380 billion cubic meters in 1975.
- How does India rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- India ranks 1st out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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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CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.