Based on an annual estimate of approximately 2,700,000,000,000,000, derived from McDermid et al. — Irrigation in the Earth system.
7,397,260,273,972
per day
308,219,178,082
per hour
5,136,986,301
per minute
85,616,438
per second
225,000,000,000,000
per month
1,915,037,552,140,411
so far this year (est.)
Putting It in Perspective
Equivalent to approximately
34
Olympic-size swimming pools every second
The live annual estimate is converted to a per-second rate, then compared with an approximately 2.5-million-litre Olympic-size pool.
Approximate comparison: World Aquatics competition-pool dimensions are 50 m × 25 m with a minimum 2 m depth, or about 2,500 m³ (2.5 million litres).
In Brief
An estimated 2,700 cubic kilometres of water is withdrawn globally for irrigation each year — about 2.7 quadrillion litres. That is roughly 7.4 trillion litres per day, or 85.6 million litres per second. The estimate refers to irrigation-water withdrawal, meaning water extracted for irrigation, rather than water permanently consumed.
This page estimates global irrigation-water withdrawal: water extracted from rivers, lakes, aquifers, and other freshwater sources for irrigation. It does not measure water permanently consumed, all agricultural water use, or water used specifically for food production.
Key Statistics
Central estimate
~2,700 km³/year
Modelled irrigation-water withdrawal
Estimated uncertainty
±540 km³/year
Around the central estimate
Irrigation share
~70%
Of global freshwater withdrawals
Context Beyond the Numbers
Irrigation accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals and around 90% of consumptive water use. Those are different measures: this page reports withdrawals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water is withdrawn for irrigation worldwide each year?
A 2023 review estimates that approximately 2,700 cubic kilometres of water are withdrawn globally for irrigation each year — about 2.7 quadrillion litres. The estimate has an uncertainty range of approximately ±540 cubic kilometres.
How much irrigation water is withdrawn every day?
The central annual estimate corresponds to roughly 7.4 trillion litres of water withdrawn for irrigation per day. This is a calculated daily average, not a direct daily observation.
How much irrigation water is withdrawn every second?
The central annual estimate corresponds to roughly 85.6 million litres of water withdrawn for irrigation per second. The live counter visualizes that estimated annual pace.
What does irrigation-water withdrawal mean?
Irrigation-water withdrawal is the volume of water extracted from rivers, lakes, aquifers, and other freshwater sources for irrigation. FAO AQUASTAT distinguishes it from net irrigation requirements and consumptive water use.
Is water withdrawal the same as water consumption?
No. Withdrawal measures water taken from a source. Consumption refers to water that is not returned to the original water system, depending on the source definition. This page reports irrigation-water withdrawal.
What share of global freshwater withdrawals is used for irrigation?
Irrigation accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. A 2023 review also reports that irrigation accounts for around 90% of consumptive water use; those are different measures.
This page uses the 2,700 km³/year central estimate from a modelled global irrigation-withdrawal range of approximately 2,700 ± 540 km³/year. HumanConsumption.Live converts that central annual estimate into a continuously updating rate for visualization; it is not a direct real-time measurement of global withdrawals.
FAO AQUASTAT defines irrigation-water withdrawal as water extracted from rivers, lakes, and aquifers for irrigation. It distinguishes withdrawal from net irrigation requirements and consumptive water use.
The pool comparison uses a 50 m × 25 m competition pool with a minimum 2 m depth: approximately 2,500 m³, or 2.5 million litres. It is an illustrative comparison, not a separate water statistic.