Indicator 6.4.2 - Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
The level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources is the ratio between total freshwater withdrawn by major economic sectors and total renewable freshwater resources, after taking into account environmental water requirements. This indicator is also known as water withdrawal intensity and will measure progress towards SDG Target 6.4.
Target 6.4
By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
Indicator 6.4.2: Progress Assessment
Impact
This indicator will improve knowledge on the efficiency and sustainability of water usage. Together with indicator 6.4.1, it will provide vital information to ensure that water resources support the world's ecosystems and continue to be available for future generations.
Key results
Uneven water stress threatens global development.
Water stress worldwide has remained relatively stable, at 18 percent as of 2022. However, a closer examination at the regional level reveals a more concerning picture, with Western Asia and Northern Africa grappling with severe water scarcity. In these regions, water stress has surged by 12 percent since 2015, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these challenges.
Economic sectors also play a key role in shaping water stress levels. Agriculture remains the dominant user of freshwater, accounting for 72 percent of total withdrawals in 2022, followed by industry (15 percent) and services (13 percent). While agriculture plays a vital role in ensuring food security and driving economic development in many countries, it faces the growing challenge of water stress, making it both a contributor and a victim, being a sector highly vulnerable to the crisis.Highlights
Elearning
SDG Indicator 6.4.2 - Level of water stress
01/08/2023
This course provides tools, methods and processes to support countries in monitoring and reporting on
Multimedia
SDG 6 – Indicators of water use efficiency and water stress
01/01/2019
An overview of SDG indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2, measuring water use efficiency and water stress.
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators (2022)
01/09/2022
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators offers detailed analyses and trends on selected indicators for which...
Capacity development
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Monitoring water-use efficiency and level of water stress in Bangladesh
19/11/2024
Strengthening capacity of country institutions to monitor and report on SDG 6.4.1 and 6.4.2 indicators
.jpg?sfvrsn=e31f7786_1 "0ff01e29-116f-4af9-9a8d-4a5ca31af03b (1)")
(Iraq)
Training workshop on monitoring and reporting of SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in Iraq
21/10/2024 - 23/10/2024
FAO conducted a Training workshop on monitoring and reporting of SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in Iraq, from 21 to 23 October 2024.
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Strengthening capacity on SDG 6.4.1 and 6.4.2 indicators in El Salvador
09/10/2024 - 11/10/2024
Monitoring water-use efficiency and level of water stress to inform policy
-.jpg?sfvrsn=99375817_1 "img_20240715_160433-(1)-")
Disaggregation of the SDG 6.4.2 indicator at sub-basin level in Peru
15/07/2024 - 19/07/2024
The IMI-SDG6 team and the National Water Authority (ANA) Peru have started a new collaboration on implementing the disaggregation of the SDG 6.4.2...
Gender contextualization of SDG 6 in Senegal: finalization workshop (Dakar, Senegal)
22/04/2024 - 24/04/2024
The finalization workshop of the Gender contextualization of SDG 6 in Senegal in Dakar from Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 April 2024. The workshop...
_sm.jpg?sfvrsn=d790de45_1 "img_7127-(2)_sm")
Training workshop: Spatial disaggregation of SDG 6.4.2 on level of water stress - Senegal river basin
15/04/2024
Improving water monitoring and management through the use of the water stress plugin for WEAP.
Multi-stakeholder workshop: Monitoring and Reporting of SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in the Near East and North Africa region
13/12/2023 - 14/12/2023
FAO is hosting a multi-stakeholder workshop on SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in the Near East and North Africa region.
Regional workshop on SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in Latin America and the Caribbean
29/11/2023 - 01/12/2023
FAO is hosting a regional workshop on SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in Latin America and the Caribbean on November 29 and 30, and December...
SDG 6 gender contextualization: country consultation webinars (EN, FR, SP)
14/11/2023 - 16/11/2023
Webinars for promoting gender contextualization of the SDG 6 global Indicators
Monitoring and Reporting of SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) - Cabo Verde
18/07/2023 - 20/07/2023
FAO organized a workshop on SDG 6.4 target (water use and scarcity) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries...
Hybrid Event
FAO Side Event "Disaggregation of the SDG indicator 6.4.2 (level of water stress) by river basin" at the UN 2023 Water Conference
24/03/2023
This event showcased a few innovative methods to disaggregate water stress (SDG 6.4.2) and its components at catchment and river basin level, through...
Virtual Event
The spatial disaggregation of the SDG 6.4.2 (level of water stress) by river basin
03/10/2022
The webinar titled "The spatial disaggregation of the SDG 6.4.2 (level of water stress) by river basin", which was organized by the FAO Technical...
Hybrid Event
Interactive regional training course on SDG 6.4 indicators (in Portuguese)
21/06/2022 - 30/06/2022
FAO Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (IMI-SDG6), in collaboration with AQUASTAT and the Office of the Chief Statistician, organized a regional...
Virtual Event
Formation en ligne sur les indicateurs de l'ODD 6.4 (Afrique francophone)
18/02/2021 - 18/03/2021
La FAO (IMI-SDG6 - Initiative pour le suivi intégré de l’ODD 6 en collaboration avec AQUASTAT*) tient, du 18 février au 18 mars 2021, une formation...
Virtual Event
Interactive regional training course on SDG 6.4 indicators
12/11/2020 - 10/12/2020
The goal of this workshop organized by FAO was to bring together technical experts and statisticians to help with the methodology work for SDG Indicators...
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
Workshop on SDG indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2 for Eastern Africa
15/10/2019 - 18/10/2019
The goal of this workshop organized by FAO was to bring together technical experts and statisticians to help with the methodology work for SDG Indicators...
Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Workshop on SDG indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2 for Central Asia
08/10/2019
The goal of this workshop organized by FAO was to bring together technical experts and statisticians to help with the methodology work for SDG Indicators...
Methodology
- Metadata
- Step-by-Step Monitoring Methodology
- Incorporating environmental flows into “water stress” indicator 6.4.2. Guidelines for a minimum standard method for global reporting
- Incorporating environmental flows into “water stress” Indicator 6.4.2. Incorporating environmental flows into “water stress” Indicator 6.4.2 The role of the environmental management class in the estimation of environmental flow requirements
- Water stress plugin for Water Evaluation and Planning system (WEAP)
- Considerations on how SDG target 6.4 is reflected in Voluntary National Reviews
Tier: I
Data
- SDG Indicator Global Database
- AQUASTAT | Global Information System on Water and Agriculture
- FAOSTAT - SDG Indicators
Data collection
Related publications
- Progress on the level of water stress. Mid-term status of SDG Indicator 6.4.2 and acceleration needs, with special focus on food security, 2024
- Progress on level of water stress, 2024: visual summary
- Progress on change in water-use efficiency. Mid-term status of SDG Indicator 6.4.1 and acceleration needs, with special focus on food security and climate change, 2024
- Progress on change in water-use efficiency, 2024: visual summary