EarthTrends (http://earthtrends.wri.org) Searchable Database Results Provided by the World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) "Water Resources and Freshwater Ecosystems -- Groundwater Withdrawals: Annual total" "Units: Cubic kilometers (km^3)" ,,1973-2005, World "World {1}","",600.00, ,,1973-2005, Country "Albania {2}","ALB",0.60, "Algeria {3}","DZA",2.90, "Argentina {4}","ARG",4.70, "Australia {5}","AUS",2.20, "Austria {6}","AUT",1.40, "Bangladesh {7}","BGD",10.70, "Belarus {8}","BLR",1.20, "Belgium {9}","BEL",0.80, "Benin {10}","BEN",0.04, "Botswana {11}","BWA",0.13, "Brazil {12}","BRA",8.00, "Brunei Darussalam {13}","BRN",0.04, "Bulgaria {14}","BGR",5.00, "Canada {15}","CAN",1.00, "Chad {16}","TCD",0.10, "China {17}","CHN",52.90, "Congo {18}","COG",0.02, "Cuba {19}","CUB",3.80, "Cyprus {20}","CYP",0.10, "Czech Rep {21}","CZE",0.50, "Denmark {22}","DNK",0.90, "Djibouti {23}","DJI",0.02, "Egypt {24}","EGY",7.04, "Finland {25}","FIN",0.20, "France {26}","FRA",6.00, "Gabon {27}","GAB",0.00, "Georgia {28}","GEO",3.00, "Germany {29}","DEU",7.10, "Ghana {30}","GHA",0.11, "Greece {31}","GRC",2.00, "Guinea {32}","GIN",0.07, "Guinea-Bissau {33}","GNB",0.03, "Hungary {34}","HUN",1.00, "Iceland {35}","ISL",0.20, "India {36}","IND",190.00, "Iran, Islamic Rep {37}","IRN",29.00, "Iraq {38}","IRQ",0.20, "Ireland {39}","IRL",0.20, "Israel {40}","ISR",1.20, "Italy {41}","ITA",13.90, "Japan {42}","JPN",13.60, "Jordan {43}","JOR",0.50, "Kazakhstan {44}","KAZ",2.40, "Korea, Rep {45}","KOR",2.50, "Kuwait {46}","KWT",0.30, "Kyrgyzstan {47}","KGZ",0.60, "Lebanon {48}","LBN",0.40, "Libyan Arab Jamahiriya {49}","LBY",4.27, "Lithuania {50}","LTU",0.20, "Luxembourg {51}","LUX",0.03, "Madagascar {52}","MDG",0.02, "Malaysia {53}","MYS",0.40, "Maldives {54}","MDV",0.00, "Mali {55}","MLI",0.10, "Malta {56}","MLT",0.03, "Mauritania {57}","MRT",0.90, "Mauritius {58}","MUS",0.15, "Mexico {59}","MEX",25.10, "Mongolia {60}","MNG",0.40, "Morocco {61}","MAR",3.17, "Namibia {62}","NAM",0.13, "Netherlands {63}","NLD",1.10, "Niger {64}","NER",0.10, "Norway {65}","NOR",0.40, "Oman {66}","OMN",0.40, "Pakistan {67}","PAK",60.00, "Peru {68}","PER",2.00, "Philippines {69}","PHL",4.00, "Poland {70}","POL",2.00, "Portugal {71}","PRT",3.10, "Qatar {72}","QAT",0.20, "Romania {73}","ROU",3.60, "Saudi Arabia {74}","SAU",14.40, "Senegal {75}","SEN",0.30, "Seychelles {76}","SYC",0.00, "Slovakia {77}","SVK",0.60, "Slovenia {78}","SVN",0.20, "Somalia {79}","SOM",0.01, "South Africa {80}","ZAF",1.80, "Spain {81}","ESP",5.40, "Sudan {82}","SDN",0.30, "Sweden {83}","SWE",0.60, "Switzerland {84}","CHE",0.90, "Syrian Arab Rep {85}","SYR",1.80, "Tajikistan {86}","TJK",2.30, "Thailand {87}","THA",0.70, "Tunisia {88}","TUN",1.90, "Turkey {89}","TUR",7.60, "Turkmenistan {90}","TKM",0.40, "Ukraine {91}","UKR",4.00, "United Arab Emirates {92}","ARE",1.60, "United Kingdom {93}","GBR",2.50, "United States {94}","USA",109.80, "Uzbekistan {95}","UZB",7.40, "Viet Nam {96}","VNM",0.80, "Yemen {97}","YEM",1.40, "Zambia {98}","ZMB",0.07, "Zimbabwe {99}","ZWE",0.42, Footnotes "1 -- World" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "2 -- Albania" "1989 value; WRI compilation" "3 -- Algeria" "1989 value; WRI compilation" "4 -- Argentina" "1975 value; WRI compilation" "5 -- Australia" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "6 -- Austria" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "7 -- Bangladesh" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "8 -- Belarus" "1989 value; WRI compilation" "9 -- Belgium" "1980 value; WRI compilation" "10 -- Benin" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "11 -- Botswana" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "12 -- Brazil" "1987 value; WRI compilation" "13 -- Brunei Darussalam" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "14 -- Bulgaria" "1988 value; WRI compilation" "15 -- Canada" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "16 -- Chad" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "17 -- China" "1988 value; WRI compilation" "18 -- Congo" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "19 -- Cuba" "1975 value; WRI compilation" "20 -- Cyprus" "1998 value; WRI compilation" "21 -- Czech Rep" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "22 -- Denmark" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "23 -- Djibouti" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "24 -- Egypt" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "25 -- Finland" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "26 -- France" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "27 -- Gabon" "1989 value; WRI compilation" "28 -- Georgia" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "29 -- Germany" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "30 -- Ghana" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "31 -- Greece" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "32 -- Guinea" "1985 value; AQUASTAT" "33 -- Guinea-Bissau" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "34 -- Hungary" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "35 -- Iceland" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "36 -- India" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "37 -- Iran, Islamic Rep" "1980 value; WRI compilation" "38 -- Iraq" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "39 -- Ireland" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "40 -- Israel" "1996 value; WRI compilation" "41 -- Italy" "1992 value; WRI compilation" "42 -- Japan" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "43 -- Jordan" "1993 value; WRI compilation" "44 -- Kazakhstan" "1993 value; WRI compilation" "45 -- Korea, Rep" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "46 -- Kuwait" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "47 -- Kyrgyzstan" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "48 -- Lebanon" "1991 value; WRI compilation" "49 -- Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "50 -- Lithuania" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "51 -- Luxembourg" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "52 -- Madagascar" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "53 -- Malaysia" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "54 -- Maldives" "1987 value; WRI compilation" "55 -- Mali" "1989 value; WRI compilation" "56 -- Malta" "1998 value; WRI compilation" "57 -- Mauritania" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "58 -- Mauritius" "2005 value; AQUASTAT" "59 -- Mexico" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "60 -- Mongolia" "1993 value; WRI compilation" "61 -- Morocco" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "62 -- Namibia" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "63 -- Netherlands" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "64 -- Niger" "1988 value; WRI compilation" "65 -- Norway" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "66 -- Oman" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "67 -- Pakistan" "1991 value; WRI compilation" "68 -- Peru" "1973 value; WRI compilation" "69 -- Philippines" "1980 value; WRI compilation" "70 -- Poland" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "71 -- Portugal" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "72 -- Qatar" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "73 -- Romania" "1993 value; WRI compilation" "74 -- Saudi Arabia" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "75 -- Senegal" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "76 -- Seychelles" "2005 value; AQUASTAT" "77 -- Slovakia" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "78 -- Slovenia" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "79 -- Somalia" "2005 value; AQUASTAT" "80 -- South Africa" "1980 value; WRI compilation" "81 -- Spain" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "82 -- Sudan" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "83 -- Sweden" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "84 -- Switzerland" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "85 -- Syrian Arab Rep" "1993 value; WRI compilation" "86 -- Tajikistan" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "87 -- Thailand" "1980 value; WRI compilation" "88 -- Tunisia" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" "89 -- Turkey" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "90 -- Turkmenistan" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "91 -- Ukraine" "1989 value; WRI compilation" "92 -- United Arab Emirates" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "93 -- United Kingdom" "1995 value; WRI compilation" "94 -- United States" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "95 -- Uzbekistan" "1994 value; WRI compilation" "96 -- Viet Nam" "1990 value; WRI compilation" "97 -- Yemen" "1985 value; WRI compilation" "98 -- Zambia" "1990 value; AQUASTAT" "99 -- Zimbabwe" "2000 value; AQUASTAT" Source "Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Land and Water Development Division. 2003. AQUASTAT online database. Rome: FAO. Available on-line at http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agl/aglw/aquastat/dbase/index.stm." "" "WRI Groundwater Compilation:" "Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minière (BRGM). 1990. Les Eaux Souterraines dans le Monde. France." "Economic Commission for Europe. 1992. The Environment in Europe and North America. United Nations, New York." "Margat, J. and D. Vallee. 1999. Blue Plan-Water Resources and Uses in the Mediterranean Countries. Sophia Antipolis." "Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). 1997. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1997. Paris." "Shiklomanov, I.A. 1997. Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World. Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm." Technical Notes "Definition:" "Annual total groundwater withdrawals refers to the total abstractions from groundwater sources, including nonrenewable sources per year. Groundwater is defined as any subsurface water that exists in the zone of saturation (i.e., below the water table). This water is commonly present as underground streams and aquifers and often feeds wells and springs on the surface." "" "Withdrawals are made from groundwater sources for use in the agricultural, domestic, and industrial sectors. Excessive reduction of the groundwater supply (i.e., beyond its capacity to recharge) will lower the water table and can result in several detrimental effects to the usable groundwater supply, including dry wells, increased land subsidence, and saltwater encroachment." "" "Years Covered and Frequency of Update:" "Annual totals from the WRI compilation are for the years 1973, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987-1996, and 1998, and are available as 5-year average annual values for 1998-2002 and 2003-2007 from the Food and Agricultural Organization's (FAO) AQUASTAT database (see below). However, data are sparse and time series rarely include more than one data point per country. Data have therefore been presented as a single column (1973-2005). The value presented is the most recent total reported for a given country. The actual year each value was reported is available within the footnote for each country. " "" "The AQUASTAT database is updated as new data become available, or when the FAO conducts special regional studies. " "" "Methodology:" "Groundwater resources are often estimated by measuring rainfall or aquifer levels in arid areas where rainfall is assumed to infiltrate the ground. In humid areas, groundwater is estimated as equal to the base flow of all rivers in a particular country." "" "Most data for this variable were collected by WRI staff in 2000 from several disparate publication sources (see source notes). The publications used in the WRI compilation are comprehensive regional assessments of numerous hydrologic variables. Please refer to individual sources for details of author methodologies." "" "In 2005, these data were complemented with values available from the FAO AQUASTAT database (available on-line here). The FAO collects its data for AQUASTAT from a number of sources; preferred data comes from the literature or national and sub-national surveys and reports. In most cases, a critical analysis of the information is necessary to ensure consistency between the different data collected for a given country. When possible, cross-checking of information between countries was used to improve assessment in countries where information was limited." "" "For more information please see the following publication: Review of World Water Resources by Country: Water Reports 23. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Rome: 2003." "" "Data source identifications (WRI compilation or AQUASTAT) are available within the footnote for each country." "" "Data Reliability:" "Although substantial care was taken when compiling the data for this variable, freshwater data are generally of poor quality. Information sources are numerous but rarely complete. Access to information on water resources is still sometimes restricted for reasons related to sensitivity at the regional level. Despite the FAO's rigorous guidelines for calculating final AQUASTAT variable values, the accuracy and reliability of the original information provided varies greatly among regions, countries, and categories of information, as does the year in which the information was gathered. In addition, during the WRI compilation, country-level values taken from the regional assessments occasionally incorporated subtle variations in the corresponding definition terminology. Country-level values were also sometimes estimated from graphs and charts within these assessments. As a result, no consistency can be ensured at the regional level on the duration and dates of the period of reference. Cross-country comparisons should therefore be made with caution."