Renewable freshwater resources per capita in China
China: Renewable freshwater resources per capita was 1,992 cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
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.
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
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 15.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 1.5% (2024)
- Gas production 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.5% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.4% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 59.5% (2023)
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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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.