In 2023, fresh surface water abstractions for irrigation in South Korea stood at 10.26 billion cubic meters. Over the past two years, there was a noticeable uptrend from 2022, showing a year-on-year increase of 6.63% in 2023 and 13.72% in 2022. This trend reverses the dramatic decline seen in 2020 when a significant decrease of 43.83% was recorded. Over the last five years, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) has been a mild 0.72%, highlighting a period of relative instability following a significant drop in 2020.
Forecasts suggest a continued gradual decline in fresh surface water abstractions, with a predicted annual decrease of approximately -2.32% through 2028. This projected trend translates to an overall decline of about -11.07% over the next five years. Future trends to watch include the impact of climate change on water resources, policy changes regarding water usage, and advancements in irrigation technology that may influence water abstraction rates. Monitoring these factors will be crucial for anticipating further trends in water abstraction for irrigation in South Korea.
