depending on the country values are either imputed or official
Supplementary notes
Annual gross amount of water extracted from rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The source does not specify the publication date. The release date given is the date of access.
Citation formats
Global fresh surface water withdrawals 2020, by main country
China withdraws the largest volume of fresh surface water worldwide, at an estimated *** billion cubic meters in 2020. This was followed by India and the United States, each with more than *** billion cubic meters withdrawn per year. Surface water is any body of water above ground, such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Brazil has the largest volume of renewable surface water resources worldwide.
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FAO (Aquastat). (March 21, 2023). Fresh surface water withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from /statistics/1257879/total-fresh-surface-water-withdrawals/
FAO (Aquastat). "Fresh surface water withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters)." Chart. March 21, 2023. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 15, 2026. /statistics/1257879/total-fresh-surface-water-withdrawals/
FAO (Aquastat). (2023). Fresh surface water withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 15, 2026. /statistics/1257879/total-fresh-surface-water-withdrawals/
FAO (Aquastat). "Fresh Surface Water Withdrawals Worldwide in 2020, by Leading Country (in Billion Cubic Meters)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 21 Mar 2023, /statistics/1257879/total-fresh-surface-water-withdrawals/
FAO (Aquastat), Fresh surface water withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1257879/total-fresh-surface-water-withdrawals/ (last visited July 15, 2026)
Fresh surface water withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters) [Graph], FAO (Aquastat), March 21, 2023. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1257879/total-fresh-surface-water-withdrawals/
