Renewable freshwater resources per capita in China
China: Renewable freshwater resources per capita was 1,992 cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1,992 cubic meters
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
106th
of 183 countries
All-time high
4,260 cubic meters
in 1961
All-time low
1,992 cubic meters
in 2021
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in China, 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
China recorded 1,992 cubic meters for renewable freshwater resources per capita in 2022.
That represents a change of down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable freshwater resources per capita in China peaked at 4,260 cubic meters in 1961 and was at its lowest, 1,992 cubic meters, in 2021.
China ranks 106th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in China, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,260 cubic meters | — |
| 1962 | 4,225 cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 4,122 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1964 | 4,028 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 3,933 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 3,825 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1967 | 3,728 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 3,632 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 3,534 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 3,437 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 3,344 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1972 | 3,263 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 3,189 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 3,124 cubic meters | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 3,070 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 3,022 cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 2,981 cubic meters | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 2,942 cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 2,903 cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 2,867 cubic meters | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 2,830 cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 2,789 cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 2,749 cubic meters | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 2,713 cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 2,676 cubic meters | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 2,637 cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 2,595 cubic meters | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 2,553 cubic meters | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 2,515 cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 2,478 cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 2,444 cubic meters | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 2,415 cubic meters | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 2,387 cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 2,360 cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 2,335 cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 2,310 cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 2,287 cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 2,265 cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 2,245 cubic meters | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 2,228 cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 2,212 cubic meters | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 2,197 cubic meters | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 2,183 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 2,170 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 2,158 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 2,146 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 2,134 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 2,124 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 2,113 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 2,103 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 2,091 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 2,077 cubic meters | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 2,063 cubic meters | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 2,050 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 2,039 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 2,027 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 2,015 cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 2,005 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 1,998 cubic meters | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 1,993 cubic meters | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 1,992 cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1,992 cubic meters | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,992 cubic meters is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,061 cubic meters, 65% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 1,992 cubic meters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7,240 cubic meters, 28% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3,921 cubic meters | 3,534 cubic meters | 4,260 cubic meters | 9 |
| 1970s | 3,128 cubic meters | 2,903 cubic meters | 3,437 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,692 cubic meters | 2,515 cubic meters | 2,867 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,353 cubic meters | 2,245 cubic meters | 2,478 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,166 cubic meters | 2,113 cubic meters | 2,228 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,047 cubic meters | 1,998 cubic meters | 2,103 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,992 cubic meters | 1,992 cubic meters | 1,993 cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
- 103 United Kingdom 2,144 cubic meters compare
- 104 Namibia 2,132 cubic meters compare
- 105 Dominican Republic 2,092 cubic meters compare
- 107 Bahamas 1,761 cubic meters compare
- 108 Grenada 1,711 cubic meters compare
- 109 Saint Lucia 1,678 cubic meters compare
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 15.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable freshwater resources per capita in China?
- Renewable freshwater resources per capita in China was 1,992 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 4,260 cubic meters in 1961.
- What is the lowest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,992 cubic meters in 2021.
- How does China rank for renewable freshwater resources per capita?
- China ranks 106th out of 183 countries with data for 2022.
- Is renewable freshwater resources per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. 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, 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.
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About this data
Renewable internal freshwater resources flows refer to internal renewable resources (internal river flows and groundwater from rainfall) in the country.