Israel: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2021, Israel's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources rose 19.9% on 2020 (from 110.09 to 132).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1991 to 2020), the average change was −0.6% and a typical year strayed about 4.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 4.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 19.9% in 2021 and the biggest yearly fall was 17.5% in 2004. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2012 to 2021 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 16% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

Closest to Israel in the 2021 ranking

• West Bank and Gaza — 2nd of 2: 47.75

What this measures

The level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources is the ratio between total freshwater withdrawn by all major sectors and total renewable freshwater resources, after taking into account environmental water requirements. Main sectors, as defined by ISIC standards, include agriculture; forestry and fishing; manufacturing; electricity industry; and services. This indicator is also known as water withdrawal intensity.

Limitations: Water withdrawal as a percentage of water resources is a good indicator of pressure on limited water resources, one of the most important natural resources. However, it only partially addresses the issues related to sustainable water management. Supplementary indicators that capture the multiple dimensions of water management would combine data on water demand management, behavioural changes with regard to water use and the availability of appropriate infrastructure, and measure progress in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of water use, in particular in relation to population and economic growth.

All 52 values

Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 54.76 (2022)
• Algeria — 144.82 (2022)
• Bahrain — 133.71 (2022)
• Djibouti — 6.33 (2022)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 141.17 (2022)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 81.29 (2022)
• Iraq — 59.58 (2022)
• Jordan

More environment data for Israel

• Population in largest city — 4.57 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 49.28% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 5.77 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 56.99% (2025)
• Rural population — 852,511 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 8.42% (2025)
• Urban population — 9.27 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 91.58% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 14,850 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons)

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Questions people ask

What is Israel's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources?

132 in 2021, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is down 0.87% from 133.16 in 1970. The highest value was 153.22 in 1985 and the lowest 95.94 in 2018.

Is the latest change in level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources unusual for Israel?

In 2021, Israel's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources rose 19.9% on 2020 (from 110.09 to 132). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1991 to 2020), the average change was −0.6% and a typical year strayed about 4.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 4.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator ER.H2O.FWST.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), uri: https://data.apps.fao.org/aquastat/, publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), date accessed: 20240529 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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