China's 2025 water use hits 594.45b cubic meters

China's total water use reached 594.45 billion cubic meters in 2025, up 1.65 billion cubic meters from 2024, while key efficiency indicators continued to improve, according to a report from the Ministry of Water Resources.

The China Water Conservation Report 2025 stated that water use per 10,000 yuan ($1,480) of the country's GDP fell 4.5 percent year-on-year, at comparable prices, to 42.4 cubic meters.

Water use per 10,000 yuan of industrial value added declined 7.2 percent to 22.9 cubic meters, compared to a 5.3 percent decrease a year earlier, it adds.

Agriculture remained the largest water user, consuming 368.38 billion cubic meters, or 62 percent of the total, up 3.54 billion cubic meters from 2024, the report reveals.

Industrial water use fell by 1.73 billion cubic meters to 95.37 billion cubic meters, while domestic water use rose by 980 million cubic meters to 93.66 billion cubic meters.

Use of unconventional water sources reached 25.66 billion cubic meters, up 500 million cubic meters from 2024, the report reveals.

Reclaimed water accounted for 21.34 billion cubic meters, or 83.1 percent of unconventional water use, it says.