Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand

New Zealand: Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic was 11.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
11.1%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
132nd
of 180 countries
All-time high
46.0%
in 1985
All-time low
9.2%
in 2016
Years of data
38
1985–2022

Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand, 1985–2022

10203040501985200320221985: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1986: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1987: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1988: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1989: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1990: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1991: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1992: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1993: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1994: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1995: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1996: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1997: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1998: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal1999: 46 % of total freshwater withdrawal2000: 25.8 % of total freshwater withdrawal2001: 25.1 % of total freshwater withdrawal2002: 24.6 % of total freshwater withdrawal2003: 24.2 % of total freshwater withdrawal2004: 23.9 % of total freshwater withdrawal2005: 23.6 % of total freshwater withdrawal2006: 23.4 % of total freshwater withdrawal2007: 21.4 % of total freshwater withdrawal2008: 19.4 % of total freshwater withdrawal2009: 17.4 % of total freshwater withdrawal2010: 15.6 % of total freshwater withdrawal2011: 14.6 % of total freshwater withdrawal2012: 13.6 % of total freshwater withdrawal2013: 12.5 % of total freshwater withdrawal2014: 11.5 % of total freshwater withdrawal2015: 10.4 % of total freshwater withdrawal2016: 9.2 % of total freshwater withdrawal2017: 9.5 % of total freshwater withdrawal2018: 10 % of total freshwater withdrawal2019: 10.2 % of total freshwater withdrawal2020: 11.3 % of total freshwater withdrawal2021: 11.2 % of total freshwater withdrawal2022: 11.1 % of total freshwater withdrawal

Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of total freshwater withdrawal.

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 11.1% for annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in 2022.

The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand peaked at 46.0% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2016.

New Zealand ranks 132nd of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic (% of total freshwater withdrawal) in New Zealand, 1985 to 2022.
Year % of total freshwater withdrawal Change
1985 46.0%
1986 46.0% +0.0%
1987 46.0% +0.0%
1988 46.0% +0.0%
1989 46.0% +0.0%
1990 46.0% +0.0%
1991 46.0% +0.0%
1992 46.0% +0.0%
1993 46.0% +0.0%
1994 46.0% +0.0%
1995 46.0% +0.0%
1996 46.0% +0.0%
1997 46.0% +0.0%
1998 46.0% +0.0%
1999 46.0% +0.0%
2000 25.8% -44.0%
2001 25.1% -2.6%
2002 24.6% -2.0%
2003 24.2% -1.6%
2004 23.9% -1.3%
2005 23.6% -1.1%
2006 23.4% -0.9%
2007 21.4% -8.7%
2008 19.4% -9.3%
2009 17.4% -10.0%
2010 15.6% -10.7%
2011 14.6% -6.4%
2012 13.6% -7.0%
2013 12.5% -7.7%
2014 11.5% -8.5%
2015 10.4% -9.5%
2016 9.2% -10.8%
2017 9.5% +2.8%
2018 10.0% +5.3%
2019 10.2% +2.0%
2020 11.3% +10.9%
2021 11.2% -1.0%
2022 11.1% -1.0%

New Zealand compared with similar countries

  • New Zealand's 11.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 28.7%, 39% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
  • New Zealand's 11.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.9%, 1.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2000 -44.0% 46.0% 25.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 46.0% 46.0% 46.0% 5
1990s 46.0% 46.0% 46.0% 10
2000s 22.9% 17.4% 25.8% 10
2010s 11.7% 9.2% 15.6% 10
2020s 11.2% 11.1% 11.3% 3

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 129 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 11.5% compare
  2. 130 Belize 11.3% compare
  3. 131 Zimbabwe 11.1% compare
  4. 133 Türkiye 11.1% compare
  5. 134 Indonesia 10.7% compare
  6. 135 Malawi 10.5% compare

See the full ranking of 227 places →

More infrastructure data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand?
Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand was 11.1% in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
What is the highest annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 46.0% in 1985.
What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 2016.
How does New Zealand rank for annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic?
New Zealand ranks 132nd out of 180 countries with data for 2022.
Is annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic (% of total freshwater withdrawal). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-domestic-percent-of-total-freshwater-withdrawal/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic (% of total freshwater withdrawal)
Unit
% of total freshwater withdrawal
Source
AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
227 places, 6,323 data points, 1965–2022
Last refreshed

Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins. Withdrawals also include water from desalination plants in countries where they are a significant source. Withdrawals can exceed 100 percent of total renewable resources where extraction from nonrenewable aquifers or desalination plants is considerable or where there is significant water reuse. Withdrawals for domestic uses include drinking water, municipal use or supply, and use for public services, commercial establishments, and homes. Data are for the most recent year available for 1987-2002.