Agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Agricultural water withdrawals was 21.20 billion cubic meters in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2023, agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia stood at 21.20 billion cubic meters. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia peaked at 21.20 billion cubic meters in 2018 and was at its lowest, 15.31 billion cubic meters, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 24th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 15.31 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1993 | 15.69 billion cubic meters | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 16.07 billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 16.45 billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 16.83 billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 17.21 billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 17.59 billion cubic meters | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 17.97 billion cubic meters | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 18.35 billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 18.73 billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 19.11 billion cubic meters | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 19.49 billion cubic meters | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 19.87 billion cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 20.35 billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 20.83 billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 20.28 billion cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 19.72 billion cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 19.17 billion cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 18.62 billion cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 18.06 billion cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 17.51 billion cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 18.64 billion cubic meters | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 19.61 billion cubic meters | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 20.83 billion cubic meters | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 19.79 billion cubic meters | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 19.20 billion cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 21.20 billion cubic meters | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 21.20 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 21.20 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 21.20 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 21.20 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 21.20 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.64 billion cubic meters | 15.31 billion cubic meters | 17.97 billion cubic meters | 8 |
| 2000s | 19.59 billion cubic meters | 18.35 billion cubic meters | 20.83 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.47 billion cubic meters | 17.51 billion cubic meters | 21.20 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.20 billion cubic meters | 21.20 billion cubic meters | 21.20 billion cubic meters | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia?
- Agricultural water withdrawals in Saudi Arabia was 21.20 billion cubic meters in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural water withdrawals recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.20 billion cubic meters in 2018.
- What is the lowest agricultural water withdrawals recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.31 billion cubic meters in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for agricultural water withdrawals?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 24th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural water withdrawals rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agricultural water withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for irrigation, livestock, and aquaculture.