Japan's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources was 36.64 in 2022, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is down 1.08% from 37.04 in 2012 (0.11% a year on average, compounded).
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 36.64 | 2022 |
| Five years earlier | 36.46 | 2017 |
| Ten years earlier | 37.04 | 2012 |
| Highest | 42.02 | 1992 |
| Lowest | 36.05 | 2019 |
| Average since 2013 | 36.6 | 2013–2022 |
| First recorded | 40.55 | 1980 |
What the numbers say
In 2022, Japan's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources did not change 0% on 2021 (from 36.64 to 36.64).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1992 to 2021), the average change was −0.4% and a typical year strayed about 1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.7% in 2020 and the biggest yearly fall was 3.4% in 2002. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2013 to 2022 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 22% 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.
How it compares
In 2022, Japan had the 46th highest value of the 176 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
Closest to Japan in the 2022 ranking
- China — 42nd of 176: 41.52
- Bulgaria — 43rd of 176: 40.24
- Dominican Republic — 44th of 176: 39.55
- Germany — 46th of 176: 35.35
- Kazakhstan — 47th of 176: 34.63
- Singapore — 48th of 176: 33.26
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stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources is the ratio between total freshwater withdrawn by all major sectors and total renewable freshwater resources, after taking into account environmental water requirements.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 43 values
| Year | Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 36.64 |
| 2021 | 36.64 |
| 2020 | 36.64 |
| 2019 | 36.05 |
| 2018 | 36.37 |
| 2017 | 36.46 |
| 2016 | 36.64 |
| 2015 | 36.74 |
| 2014 | 36.84 |
| 2013 | 36.94 |
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources in nearby economies
- Australia — 4.67 (2022)
- Brunei Darussalam — 3.47 (2022)
- Cambodia — 1.04 (2022)
- China — 41.52 (2022)
- Fiji — 0.3 (2022)
- Indonesia — 29.7 (2022)
- Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 27.74 (2022)
More environment data for Japan
- Population in largest city — 37.04 million (2025)
- Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 32.53% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 80.94 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 65.61% (2025)
- Rural population — 9.5 million (2025)
- Rural population (% of total population) — 7.7% (2025)
- Urban population — 113.87 million (2025)
- Urban population (% of total population) — 92.3% (2025)
- Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 802,045 (2024)
- Capture fisheries production (metric tons)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Japan's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources?
- 36.64 in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1980?
- It is down 9.64% from 40.55 in 1980 (0.24% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 42.02 in 1992 and the lowest 36.05 in 2019.
- How does Japan rank?
- 46th highest of 176 economies with data for 2022.
- Is the latest change in level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources unusual for Japan?
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.
Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.
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