The graph and table provide information about global water usage by sector from 1900 to 2000, and the water consumption statistics for Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000.
The graph illustrates the trends in water use across three sectors: agriculture, industrial, and domestic. Over the 20th century, agricultural water use consistently accounted for the highest consumption, rising dramatically from approximately 500 km³ in 1900 to nearly 3,000 km³ by 2000. Industrial and domestic usage followed similar trends of gradual increase, with industrial consumption surpassing domestic use around 1950. By 2000, industrial use reached just under 1,000 km³, while domestic usage remained comparatively modest at approximately 300 km³.
The table highlights significant disparities in water consumption between Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2000. Brazil, with a population of 176 million and 26,500 km² of irrigated land, exhibited a substantially higher per capita water consumption of 359 m³. In contrast, the DRC, despite having a population of 5.2 million, had only 100 km² of irrigated land and a per capita consumption of 8 m³. This stark contrast reflects differences in agricultural infrastructure and water availability.
In summary, global water use increased markedly throughout the century, with agriculture being the dominant sector. Meanwhile, the 2000 data demonstrate how population size and irrigation infrastructure contribute to significant variations in national water consumption.
