The freshwater abstractions for irrigation in South Korea stood at 12.37 Billion Cubic Meters in 2023. Over the past decade, the irrigation water usage has seen significant fluctuation, peaking in 2014 and hitting a low in 2020. The year-on-year variations show investment returns and changing weather patterns, with an annual decrease of -39.26% in 2020 followed by a robust recovery in the following years. The last two years have seen positive growth trends, with 8.76% in 2023, and the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the past 5 years showing a modest recovery at 2.3%.
Looking forward, the forecast suggests a steady yet conservative growth in water usage, with a forecasted 5-year CAGR of 0.17% from 2024 to 2028. Future trends to watch for include the impacts of climate change, water management policies, and advancements in irrigation technology to boost efficiency and lower water usage.
