China vs United States: Internal renewable freshwater resources by region
China
2,813 billion cubic meters
in 2022
United States
2,818 billion cubic meters
in 2022
China rank
5th
United States rank
4th
Internal renewable freshwater resources by region over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 2,818 billion cubic meters against 2,813 billion cubic meters in China, a difference of 5 billion cubic meters.
Across all 62 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 5th and United States ranks 4th of 183 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 1970s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 1980s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 1990s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 2000s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 2010s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
| 2020s | 2,813 billion cubic meters | 2,818 billion cubic meters | 5.1 billion cubic meters | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher internal renewable freshwater resources by region, China or United States?
- United States, at 2,818 billion cubic meters against 2,813 billion cubic meters in China as of 2022.
- What is the difference in internal renewable freshwater resources by region between China and United States?
- 5 billion cubic meters, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 62 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2022.
- How do China and United States rank globally for internal renewable freshwater resources by region?
- China ranks 5th and United States ranks 4th of 183 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Internal renewable freshwater resources by region. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Renewable internal freshwater resources refers to the quantity of internal freshwater from inflowing river basins and recharging groundwater aquifers.