The pie chart compares the share of global bottled water consumption in different regions in 1999, while the bar chart shows the percentage growth in consumption in 2001.
Overall, Western Europe accounted for by far the largest share of bottled water consumption in 1999, whereas Asia and the USA made up only very small proportions. However, the fastest growth in 2001 was recorded in Asia, while Western Europe, despite being the biggest consumer, showed the smallest increase.
In 1999, Western Europe dominated bottled water consumption,representing 48% of the global total. Australia was a distant second, at 15%, followed by New Zealand at 13% and Latin America at 10%. The Middle East and Africa each accounted for 5%, while Asia and the USA had the smallest shares, at only 2% each.
The growth figures in 2001 show a rather different pattern. Asia recorded the highest increase, at about 14%, even though its earlier share of consumption was very low. Latin America and New Zealand also saw strong growth, at roughly 12% each, while the Middle East and Africa both rose by around 10% to 11%. Australia and the USA experienced more moderate increases, at about 8%, whereas Western Europe grew by only around 2%, the lowest rate shown.