Annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in China
China: Annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture was 62.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in China, 1980–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
China recorded 62.1% for annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in China peaked at 88.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 61.2%, in 2019.
China ranks 87th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in China, year by year
| Year | % of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 88.2% | — |
| 1981 | 87.9% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 87.6% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 87.3% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 87.0% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 86.3% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 85.6% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 85.0% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 84.3% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 83.6% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 83.0% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 81.1% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 79.3% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 77.6% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 76.3% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 75.0% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 73.7% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 72.5% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 71.3% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 70.0% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 68.8% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 68.0% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 67.1% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 66.3% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 65.4% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 64.6% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 64.3% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 63.0% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 63.3% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 63.5% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 62.5% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 62.4% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 64.3% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 64.5% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 64.6% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 64.4% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 62.4% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 62.3% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.4% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 61.2% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 62.1% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 62.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 62.1% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 62.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 63.5%, 98% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 62.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 66.8%, 93% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 86.3% | 83.6% | 88.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.0% | 70.0% | 83.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.4% | 63.0% | 68.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.0% | 61.2% | 64.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.1% | 62.1% | 62.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in China?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture in China was 62.1% 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, agriculture recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 88.2% in 1980.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.2% in 2019.
- How does China rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture?
- China ranks 87th out of 180 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals, agriculture rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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, agriculture (% of total freshwater withdrawal). 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 are total withdrawals for irrigation and livestock production. Data are for the most recent year available for 1987-2002.