The graph shows how the amount of water used worldwide changed between
1900 and 2000.
Throughout the century, the largest quantity of water was used for agricultural
Purposes, and this increased dramatically from about 500 km³ to around
3, 000 km³ in the year 2000. Water used in the industrial and domestic sectors
also increased, but consumption was minimal until mid-century. From 1950
onwards, industrial use grew steadily to just over 1, 000 km³, while domestic
use rose more slowly to only 300 km³, both far below the levels of consumption
by agriculture.
The table illustrates the differences in agriculture consumption in some areas
of the world by contrasting the amount of irrigated land in Brazil (26, 500 km³)
with that in the D. R. C. (100 km²). This means that a huge amount of water is
used in agriculture in Brazil, and this is reflected in the figures for water
consumption per person: 359 m³ compared with only 8 m³ in the Congo. With a
population of 176 million, the figures for Brazil indicate how high agriculture
water consumption can be in some countries. 
The graph  
shows
 how the amount of  
water
  used
 worldwide  
changed
 between
1900 and 2000.
Throughout the century, the largest quantity of  
water
 was  
used
 for agricultural
Purposes, and this increased  
dramatically
 from about 500 km³ to around
3, 000 km³ in the year 2000.  
Water
  used
 in the industrial and domestic sectors 
also
 increased,  
but
 consumption was minimal until mid-century. From 1950
onwards, industrial  
use
 grew  
steadily
 to  
just
 over 1, 000 km³, while domestic 
use
 rose more  
slowly
 to  
only
 300 km³, both far below the levels of consumption
by agriculture.
The table illustrates the differences in agriculture consumption in  
some
 areas
of the world by contrasting the amount of irrigated land in Brazil (26, 500 km³)
with that in the D. R. C. (100 km²). This means that a huge amount of  
water
 is 
used
 in agriculture in Brazil, and this  
is reflected
 in the figures for water
consumption per person: 359 m³ compared with  
only
 8 m³ in the Congo. With a
population of 176 million, the figures for Brazil indicate how high agriculture
water consumption can be in  
some
 countries.