environment

Freshwater withdrawals

Annual freshwater withdrawals as a share of internal resources.

35.8%Belgium · 20220%
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Data insight

Global perspective

The world estimate was 158.5% in 2022, up 12.0% from 2012. Across the longer period from 2002, the global estimate changed by +39.9% (+33.7%). Latest country observations range from 0.0% in Congo, Rep. (2022) to 7750.0% in Egypt, Arab Rep. (2022), with the middle country observation at 8.8%; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, Africa reports 650.6%, while Oceania reports 1.8%. Over roughly a decade, Africa changed by +8.1%; Oceania changed by -0.5%. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +520.0% in Egypt, Arab Rep., while the largest decrease was -870.9% in Bahrain. Coverage includes 175 countries; their latest observation years span 2021-2022, with a median latest year of 2022.

Belgium over time

Belgium reports 35.8% in 2022. From 2012 to 2022, Belgium decreased by 8.3 percentage points (18.9%). From 2002 to 2022, Belgium decreased by 20.3 percentage points (36.2%). The latest decade changed by −8.3 percentage points, versus −12 percentage points in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.

Europe and world context

This is 20.6 percentage points above Europe (2022). This is 122.7 percentage points below the world estimate (2022). From 2012 to 2022, Europe decreased by 3.1 percentage points (17.0%). The latest decade changed by −3.1 percentage points, versus −2.6 percentage points in the preceding decade, indicating a larger absolute movement.

Belgium has the 43rd-highest latest observation among 175 countries and 7th among 38 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2021-2022, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.

  • Regional spread: Africa is at 650.6% (2022), compared with 1.8% in Oceania (2022).
  • Largest observed decade increase: Egypt, Arab Rep. changed by +520.0%.
  • Largest observed decade decrease: Bahrain changed by -870.9%.
  • Coverage: 175 countries; the median latest observation is 2022, with latest country observations spanning 2021-2022.
Loading country map…
Up to 1%1% to 5%5% to 16%16% to 43%Over 43%
2022
70.9%61.5%52.1%42.7%33.3%1990199520012006201120172022
Belgium

Source

World Bank

Source series ER.H2O.FWTL.ZS. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.