Municipal water withdrawal - Annual quantity of water withdrawn primarily for the direct use by the population. It can include water from renewable freshwater resources, as well as water from over-abstraction of renewable groundwater or withdrawal from fossil groundwater, direct use of agricultural drainage water, direct use of (treated) wastewater, and desalinated water. It is usually computed as the total water withdrawn by the public distribution network. It can include that part of the industries and urban agriculture, which is connected to the municipal network. The ratio between the net consumption and the water withdrawn can vary from 5 to 15% in urban areas and from 10 to 50% in rural areas.
Source did not provide a release date
Citation formats
Municipal water withdrawals worldwide 2021, by country
China has the largest municipal water withdrawals worldwide, at an estimated *** billion cubic meters per year. This was followed by the United States, which withdraws **** billion cubic meters for the municipal sector. Municipal water withdrawals account for roughly ** percent of global water withdrawals.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ can support your business.
FAO. (March 10, 2025). Countries with the largest total municipal water withdrawals worldwide in 2021 (in billion cubic meters) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 01, 2026, from /statistics/1258447/municipal-water-withdrawals-worldwide-by-country/
FAO. "Countries with the largest total municipal water withdrawals worldwide in 2021 (in billion cubic meters)." Chart. March 10, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 01, 2026. /statistics/1258447/municipal-water-withdrawals-worldwide-by-country/
FAO. (2025). Countries with the largest total municipal water withdrawals worldwide in 2021 (in billion cubic meters). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 01, 2026. /statistics/1258447/municipal-water-withdrawals-worldwide-by-country/
FAO. "Countries with The Largest Total Municipal Water Withdrawals Worldwide in 2021 (in Billion Cubic Meters)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 10 Mar 2025, /statistics/1258447/municipal-water-withdrawals-worldwide-by-country/
FAO, Countries with the largest total municipal water withdrawals worldwide in 2021 (in billion cubic meters) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1258447/municipal-water-withdrawals-worldwide-by-country/ (last visited August 01, 2026)
Countries with the largest total municipal water withdrawals worldwide in 2021 (in billion cubic meters) [Graph], FAO, March 10, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1258447/municipal-water-withdrawals-worldwide-by-country/
