Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Australia
Australia: Renewable freshwater resources per capita was 18,910 cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Australia, 1961–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2022, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Australia stood at 18,910 cubic meters. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Australia peaked at 46,933 cubic meters in 1961 and was at its lowest, 18,910 cubic meters, in 2022.
Australia ranks 32nd of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 43,327 cubic meters | 40,121 cubic meters | 46,933 cubic meters | 9 |
| 1970s | 36,064 cubic meters | 33,898 cubic meters | 39,338 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1980s | 31,355 cubic meters | 29,261 cubic meters | 33,488 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 27,460 cubic meters | 26,153 cubic meters | 28,831 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,415 cubic meters | 22,682 cubic meters | 25,856 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 20,836 cubic meters | 19,420 cubic meters | 22,331 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,082 cubic meters | 18,910 cubic meters | 19,182 cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More energy & mining data for Australia
- Fuel imports 11.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.9% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 34.6% (2025)
- Gas production 1,486 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 55,080 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 1,486 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 55,080 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 26.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 4.7% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 45.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable freshwater resources per capita in Australia?
- Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Australia was 18,910 cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 46,933 cubic meters in 1961.
- What is the lowest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,910 cubic meters in 2022.
- How does Australia rank for renewable freshwater resources per capita?
- Australia ranks 32nd out of 183 countries with data for 2022.
- Is renewable freshwater resources per capita rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Renewable freshwater resources per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Renewable internal freshwater resources flows refer to internal renewable resources (internal river flows and groundwater from rainfall) in the country.