India ranks first in the world in terms of freshwater withdrawal from natural sources, at nearly 761 billion cubic meters per year. Agriculture accounts for approximately 688 billion cubic meters of this volume. World Visualized presents this data in an infographic prepared using the AQUASTAT database of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Bank data.

The top five countries by volume of freshwater withdrawal are:

• India — 761 billion cubic meters;

• China — 581 billion cubic meters;

• USA — 444 billion cubic meters;

• Indonesia — 223 billion cubic meters;

• Pakistan — 183 billion cubic meters.

Water withdrawal refers to the extraction of water from rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers for subsequent use. A portion of the withdrawn water is returned to the natural environment.

The structure of water use varies significantly across countries. Agriculture accounts for 90,4% of total water withdrawal in India, 94,3% in Pakistan, 92,2% in Iran, and 92,1% in Indonesia.

Among the ten countries featured in the infographic, Vietnam records the highest share of water withdrawn for agriculture—94,8%. The country’s total annual water withdrawal amounts to nearly 82 billion cubic meters. Under the AQUASTAT classification, agricultural use encompasses, among other things, water for crop irrigation and livestock.

In the United States, industry accounts for the largest share of water withdrawals—45,3%. Agriculture accounts for 39,7%, and domestic use for 15%. In China, these figures are 62,1%, 20,1%, and 17,8%, respectively.

Among the countries compared, Japan records the highest share of water used for domestic purposes—18,9%. At the same time, agriculture accounts for 68% of the water withdrawn in the country.

The ranking reflects the total volume of water withdrawal and is not an indicator of per capita water consumption or water use efficiency. The reporting years for the figures shown in the infographic are not specified.