Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in South Korea
South Korea: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total was 29.2 billion cubic meters in 2022. ▲ Rising
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in South Korea, 1990–2022
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
The most recent figure for annual freshwater withdrawals, total in South Korea is 29.2 billion cubic meters, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, total in South Korea peaked at 29.2 billion cubic meters in 2005 and was at its lowest, 20.57 billion cubic meters, in 1990.
That places South Korea 24th out of 181 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.72 billion cubic meters | 20.57 billion cubic meters | 26.93 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.96 billion cubic meters | 27.68 billion cubic meters | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 29.2 billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population 81.2% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 51.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 45.0% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 17.7% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 5.9% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 2.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, total in South Korea?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total in South Korea was 29.2 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 29.2 billion cubic meters in 2005.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, total recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.57 billion cubic meters in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
- South Korea ranks 24th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, total rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea 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.