The graph and table provide information about global water use by sector over time and water consumption in two different countries.
Overall, water use worldwide increased significantly during the period shown, with agriculture accounting for the largest proportion. In addition, water consumption per person and irrigated land were much higher in Brazil than in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the graph, agricultural water use rose dramatically from 1900 to 2000, remaining the dominant sector throughout the period. Industrial water consumption also increased steadily, particularly after the mid-20th century. By contrast, domestic water use grew more gradually and remained the smallest category among the three sectors.
The table compares water consumption in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000. Brazil had a population of 176 million, far larger than Congo’s 5.2 million. In terms of irrigated land, Brazil had 26,500 km², while Congo had only 100 km². Moreover, water consumption per person in Brazil was 359 m³, which was significantly higher than the figure for Congo, at just 8 m³.