Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia
Malaysia: Renewable freshwater resources per capita was 16,717 cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
16,717 cubic meters
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
36th
of 183 countries
All-time high
71,040 cubic meters
in 1961
All-time low
16,717 cubic meters
in 2022
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia, 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
The most recent figure for renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia is 16,717 cubic meters, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia peaked at 71,040 cubic meters in 1961 and was at its lowest, 16,717 cubic meters, in 2022.
That places Malaysia 36th out of 183 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 71,040 cubic meters | — |
| 1962 | 69,211 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 67,425 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1964 | 65,697 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 64,043 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1966 | 62,468 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 61,007 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 1968 | 59,638 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 58,306 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 56,981 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 55,644 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 54,323 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 53,038 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 51,782 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 50,558 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 49,361 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 48,190 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 47,047 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 45,930 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 44,673 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 43,286 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 41,929 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 40,600 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 39,298 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 38,027 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 36,801 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 35,634 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 34,531 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 33,497 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 32,524 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 31,621 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 30,794 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 30,017 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 29,263 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 28,528 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 27,818 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 27,134 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 26,476 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 25,852 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 25,253 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 24,653 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 24,064 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 23,501 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 22,964 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 22,449 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 21,955 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 21,483 cubic meters | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 21,037 cubic meters | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 20,622 cubic meters | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 20,240 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 19,889 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 19,553 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 19,222 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 18,895 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 18,570 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 18,245 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 17,926 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 17,623 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 17,344 cubic meters | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 17,114 cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 16,918 cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 16,717 cubic meters | -1.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 16,717 cubic meters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,061 cubic meters, 5.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 16,717 cubic meters is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7,240 cubic meters, 2.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 64,315 cubic meters | 58,306 cubic meters | 71,040 cubic meters | 9 |
| 1970s | 51,285 cubic meters | 45,930 cubic meters | 56,981 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1980s | 38,828 cubic meters | 33,497 cubic meters | 44,673 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,003 cubic meters | 25,852 cubic meters | 32,524 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,798 cubic meters | 20,622 cubic meters | 25,253 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,751 cubic meters | 17,344 cubic meters | 20,240 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,917 cubic meters | 16,717 cubic meters | 17,114 cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More energy & mining data for Malaysia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.62 % 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 (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 4.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia?
- Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Malaysia was 16,717 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 71,040 cubic meters in 1961.
- What is the lowest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,717 cubic meters in 2022.
- How does Malaysia rank for renewable freshwater resources per capita?
- Malaysia ranks 36th out of 183 countries with data for 2022.
- Is renewable freshwater resources per capita rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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
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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.