Global Water Outlook to 2025: Averting an Impending Crisis -- Country Information
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Country Information
Assessments and Projections from Global Water Outlook to 2025: Averting an Impending Crisis
Definitions of Regions and Countries in the IMPACT-WATER Model
CHINA
  • In 1995, 63 percent of China's urban households had access to piped water. By 2025, this will increase to 85 percent under the business as usual scenario, but under the water crisis scenario, it will decline to 40 percent.
  • Between 1995 and 2025, China's water consumption for irrigation will decline by five percent under the business as usual scenario, from 244 to 231 cubic kilometers (km³), while overall water consumption will increase by 13 percent, from 291 to 329 km³.
  • Per capita grain demand in China will increase from 306 to 393 kilograms per year under the business as usual scenario.
  • The Yellow (or Huanghe) River basin in northern China is one of the most critically water-scarce basins in the country. This basin is important for food production in China, occupying 13 percent of the country's total cultivated area, although it only holds three percent of the total water resources. By 2025, non-irrigation water consumption is expected to increase by 75 percent over 1995 levels, leaving even less water available for irrigation.
  • In 1995, China had 30.5 million hectares under irrigated cultivation for growing rice, with an average yield of 4.03 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha). In 2010, China will have 28.9 million hectares under irrigated cultivation for rice, with average yields of 4.86 mt/ha, a per hectare increase of 21 percent. By 2025, the total area under irrigated cultivation for rice will drop to 26.7 million hectares, but yield will climb to 5.31 mt/ha, leading to an overall increase in production of more than 19 million metric tons from 1995.
  • China's per capita GDP will increase at an average rate of 5.2 percent per year between 1995 and 2025, growing from $670 to $3060 per capita.

    Other China Facts

    • As of the year 2000, 25 percent of the population of China was not using improved drinking water sources (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • In 2000, China's population was 1262.5 million. By 2015, it is projected to be 1392.6 million (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
    • Thirty-eight percent of the population of China has adequate access to sanitation facilities (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union consists of 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom
  • In 1995, the 15 countries in the European Union consumed 86 cubic kilometers (km³) of water, of which 48 km³, or 56 percent, was used for irrigation. By 2025, the European Union will consume an estimated 97 km³ of water annually under the business as usual scenario, of which 52 km³, or 53 percent, will be used for irrigation.
  • In 1995, citizens of the European Union used 12.5 km³ of water for household purposes. By 2025, they will use 13.3 km³, a six percent increase.
  • The per capita GDP in the European Union will grow at an average annual rate of 2.2 percent, from $21,820 in 1995 to $42,430 in 2025. (1995 source: World Bank)
  • By 2025, 3.6 million hectares will be under irrigated cultivation to grow wheat, producing 8.2 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha). That same year, 13.5 million hectares will be cultivated to grow wheat through rainfed agriculture, producing 5.2 mt/ha.
  • In 1995, 78 percent of people in the European Union lived in urban areas. By 2025, the number will climb to 85 percent.

    Other Facts About the European Union

    • In Germany, in 1998, the average water consumption was 129 liters per person per day, a decrease of 15 liters per day over 1991 usage levels (Federal Statistical Office of Germany).
    • Twenty-four percent of the French population lives in rural areas. Population density in rural areas is 78 people per square kilometer of arable land (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
    • In 1997, people in Denmark each used an average of 49 liters of water per day for personal hygiene (National SoE Reports, European Environmental Agency).
INDIA
  • In 1995, 11 percent of India's rural households had access to piped water. Under the business as usual scenario, this number will climb to 47 percent by 2025, but under the water crisis scenario, it would increase to only 13 percent.
  • In 1995, India harvested an estimated 37.8 million hectares of grains under irrigation. Irrigated land will reach 47.1 million hectares by 2025 under the business as usual scenario.
  • In 2025, India will consume 396 cubic kilometers (km3) of water under the business as usual scenario. This is more than double that of projections for the United States (191 km³) and nearly one-fifth of the total global water consumption that year.
  • The Ganges River basin, occupying much of the northern part of India, is estimated to have consumed 141 km³ of water in 1995 and is projected to consume 147 km³ in 2025. This is more than half the total water consumption of the entire developed world, and is slightly greater than the total water consumption rates for all of Latin America.
  • In 1995, India had 18 million hectares under irrigation cultivation for rice, with an average yield of 2.51 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha). The amount of irrigated land is projected grow to 22.5 million hectares by 2025 under the business as usual scenario, with an annual yield of 3.8 mt/ha. Using these projections, this would result in an increase of 25 percent in area and a 51 percent increase in yield per hectare combining to produce an additional 40 million metric tons of rice.
  • Domestic water use in India is projected to nearly double between 1995 and 2025, from 21 km³ to 41 km³.

    Other India Facts

    • For every 1,000 children born in India, 96 die before their fifth birthday (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
    • Over 86 percent of Indians live on less than $2 a day (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • In 2000, 72 percent of the people in India were rural dwellers, with an average of 444 people per square kilometer of arable land (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
LATIN AMERICA
  • In 1995, the average person in Latin America used 68 liters of water each day for household purposes. By 2025, this will increase to 101 liters per person per day under the business as usual scenario.
  • Under the business as usual scenario, in 2025, Latin America will have 9.8 million hectares under irrigation for grain production, while rainfed agriculture will produce grain on 55.6 million hectares.
  • Latin America has the lowest rate of grain consumption in the world. In 1995, per capita consumption was 46.8 kilograms per year, compared with 305.9 kilograms per person per year in China. Under the business as usual scenario, per capita grain consumption in Latin America will increase to 58.4 kilograms by 2025.
  • Under the water crisis scenario, Latin America would be the only region of the developing world to have net grain exports. While Latin America would have 4.7 million metric tons of net exports, China would need to have net imports of 58.5 million metric tons to meet demand.
  • The total water consumption for Latin America in 1995 was 131 km³. It will be 170 km³ in 2025 under the business as usual scenario.
  • People who live in rural households connected to piped water supply used an average of 27.2 cubic meters of water per year in 1995, while those in urban households connected to piped used an average of 41.7 cubic meters per person per year.

    Other Latin America Facts

    • In 1990, 35 percent of the population of Latin America lived in rural areas. By 2000, rural population dropped to 25 percent (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
    • The average life expectancy in the region is 70 years, while the per capita GDP is $7,234 (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • Seventy-eight percent of the population of Latin America has adequate access to sanitation facilities (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
  • In 1995, the Middle East and North Africa had the highest per capita grain consumption in the developing world. However, its consumption will grow from 358.7 kilograms per person per year in 1995 to 358.8 in 2025 under the business as usual scenario, the smallest increase of the developing regions.
  • Rates of grain production in the Middle East and North Africa are among the lowest in the world, a fact that is not projected to change in the next 25 years. In 1995, 47.5 million metric tons were produced using rainfed agriculture, and 34.9 million were produced on irrigated land. The business as-usual scenario shows these numbers increasing by 2025, to 66.6 million and 53.0 million tons, respectively.
  • In 1995, per capita domestic consumption in the Middle East and North Africa was 64 liters per person per day, lower than all other developing country regions except Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The Middle East and North Africa will need to have net grain imports of 72.3 million metric tons under the water crisis scenario in 2025, a significant increase over the net trade deficit of 37.8 million metric tons in 1995.
  • The Middle East and North Africa consumed 135 km³ of water in 1995, most of which was used for irrigation.
  • In 1995, rural households connected to piped water an average of 18.3 cubic meters per person per year, while rural households not connected to water supplies used an average 10.6 cubic meters per person per year.

    Other Middle East and North Africa Facts

    • Eighty-one percent of the population of the region has adequate access to sanitation facilities (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • In 1990, 52 percent of the population of the Middle East lived in rural areas. This declined to 41 percent by 2000 (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
    • The average life expectancy in the region between 1995 and 2000 was 65.9 years, and for every 1,000 children born in the region, 61 will die before their fifth birthday (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
  • Under the business-as-usual scenario, sub-Saharan Africa will have 97.7 million hectares under cultivation for rainfed grain production in 2025. This represents a 40 percent increase, from 69.8 million hectares under rainfed grain production in 1995. By 2025, only 4.9 million hectares will be cultivated for irrigated grain production, up from 3.3 million hectares in 1995.
  • Between 1995 and 2025, grain demand in sub-Saharan Africa will increase by 121 percent, from 78 to 172 million metric tons.
  • In 1995, sub-Saharan Africa produced 66 million metric tons of grain, but demand was 78 million metric tons that year, creating a deficit of 12 million metric tons. Under the business-as-usual scenario, in 2025, 138 million metric tons of grains will be produced in the region, but demand will be 172 million metric tons, increasing the deficit to 34 million metric tons.
  • In 1995, household water use in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa was estimated at 18.8 cubic meters per person per year for households with connections to piped water, while the rate for connected urban households was 55 percent higher, at 29.2 cubic meters per person per year.

    Other Sub-Saharan Africa Facts

    • In 2000, 55 percent of the people living in sub-Saharan Africa had access to adequate sanitation facilities, and 54 percent of the population was using improved water sources (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • For every 1,000 children born in sub-Saharan Africa, 174 die before their fifth birthday. The average life expectancy in the region is 48.7 years (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
    • In 1975, 79 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lived in rural areas. By 2000, that number dropped to 66 percent. By 2015, 57 percent of the population in the region will live in rural areas (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
UNITED STATES
  • In 1995, total water consumption in the United States was 185 cubic kilometers (km³). By 2025, consumption will be 191 km³ and nearly two-thirds will be for irrigation.
  • Total household water consumption in the United States was 24 km³ in 1995, and is projected to be 29 km³ by 2025. The United States will be responsible for more than ten percent of the global household water consumption in 2025.
  • The South Atlantic-Gulf basin has the highest levels of household water consumption in the United States of the regional basins analyzed. In 1995, it was 3.9 km³, and it will increase to 4.8 km³ by 2025.
  • Of the U.S. regional basins, the Mississippi Upstream and Great Lakes basins have the lowest levels of total water consumption. In 1995, rates were 5.3 km³ and 6.6 km³, respectively. This trend is expected to continue through 2025, when rates will be 5.5 km³ and 6.9 km³.
  • In 1995, the United States had 4.3 million hectares under irrigated cultivation for corn, producing an average 9.2 metric tons per hectare. While the area under irrigated cultivation for corn in the United States will only expand by 335,000 hectares by 2025, yield will increase to 13.4 metric tons per hectare, nearly 4.8 more metric tons per hectare above the projected world average in 2025.
  • Rainfed cultivation of corn covers 24.2 million hectares in the United States.

    Other United States Facts

    • In 2000, the average life expectancy in the United States was 77 years (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • One hundred percent of the U.S. population has access to improved water sources and uses adequate sanitation facilities, compared to slightly more than half the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
    • Twenty-three percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
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