Water stress
44.9%
Country Water Profile
Water Risk in Mexico
SDG 6.4.2 water stress: 44.9% · WRI Aqueduct baseline water stress: High (40-80%) · At least basic drinking water: 99.5% · Drought exposure: Medium (0.4-0.6)
Mexico has 44.9% SDG 6.4.2 water stress in the latest available FAO AQUASTAT reading, while WRI Aqueduct classifies baseline water stress as High (40-80%). WHO/UNICEF JMP estimates at least basic drinking-water access at 99.5% and safely managed drinking water at 43%. WRI Aqueduct adds a baseline drought exposure signal of Medium (0.4-0.6).
Mexico faces structural water risk driven by 44.9% water stress, high agricultural demand, groundwater pressure, drought exposure, and uneven regional water availability. Although 99.5% of the population has at least basic drinking-water access, only 43% has safely managed service, so national access rates should not be read as proof of low water risk.
Basic drinking water
99.5%
Agricultural water use
76.3%
Population
130.9M
Aqueduct category
High (40-80%)
Key Takeaway
The main takeaway for Mexico
Mexico’s water-risk profile points to a structural water-pressure challenge rather than a temporary shortage. The country combines 44.9% water stress with 76.3% agricultural freshwater withdrawal, meaning water demand remains high relative to available renewable freshwater resources. Basic drinking-water access is very high at 99.5%, but safely managed drinking-water access is much lower at 43%, so access figures alone do not capture the full water-risk picture. Mexico’s long-term water risk is shaped by irrigation demand, groundwater pressure, drought exposure, and strong regional variation across river basins and aquifers.
Key Indicators
What the main numbers say about Mexico
Water Stress
44.9%
Basic Drinking Water Access
99.5%
Agricultural Water Use
76.3%
Population
130.9M
Water Access and Service Quality
Water access, sanitation and service quality
This section brings together headline access, service quality, sanitation, hygiene, and the biggest access gaps.
What stands out most clearly
Water stress remains structurally high
The latest public indicators show 44.9% water stress, suggesting that pressure is not just episodic but tied to long-term demand, supply limits, and wider resource management.
Agriculture dominates water demand
Agriculture accounts for 76.3% of total water withdrawal, making it the single most important driver of national water pressure and a key factor in long-term system strain.
Access and pressure tell different stories
Basic drinking water access reaches 99.5%, but high access does not remove underlying resource stress, because reliability, service quality, and regional differences can still remain significant.
Drought adds volatility
A drought exposure rating of Medium (0.4-0.6) means climate variability remains an important part of the national risk picture and can turn existing pressure into sharper disruption during dry periods.
Headline access
Headline access figures do not tell the whole story. This breakdown shows how baseline access, service quality, and urban-rural differences shape the real picture.
Basic access
99.5%
Safely managed
43%
Sanitation and hygiene conditions
Safely managed drinking water
Shows the share of the population with a higher-quality drinking water service than basic access alone.
Sanitation service level
Shows whether sanitation access keeps pace with drinking water access and whether service quality remains uneven.
Open defecation
Helps show whether sanitation access gaps still translate into major health and dignity risks.
Basic handwashing access
Adds hygiene context and helps show whether household-level service conditions support public health resilience.
Urban and rural differences
Basic drinking water: urban vs rural
Shows whether headline access hides a meaningful urban-rural inequality.
Where the biggest gaps appear
The most useful signals often sit in the gaps between access, service quality, geography, and resource pressure.
Basic vs safely managed
The gap between basic access and safely managed service shows where headline access still overstates full service quality.
Stress vs access
Comparing water stress with access helps show whether infrastructure outcomes are masking deeper resource pressure.
Overview
The overall country profile
Mexico shows 44.9% SDG 6.4.2 water stress in the latest FAO AQUASTAT reading. The SDG threshold band is Low (SDG 6.4.2 threshold). This percentage-based SDG indicator should be interpreted separately from WRI Aqueduct’s baseline water-stress category, which classifies Mexico as High (40-80%).
Basic drinking water access is 99.5%, while service quality and reliability can still vary below headline access figures.
Drought exposure is classified as Medium (0.4-0.6), while groundwater pressure is described as moderate groundwater pressure. Together these factors can make water stress harder to manage across seasons and regions.
Water Data Snapshot
A quick reference table
These indicators show where water pressure comes from, how it affects access, and how each metric should be interpreted in context.
| Indicator | Value | Source | Year | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 130.9M | World Bank | 2024 | Shows the scale of demand that water systems must serve. |
| Water stress | 44.9% | FAO AQUASTAT | 2022 | Shows how much pressure water withdrawals place on available resources. |
| Basic drinking water access | 99.5% | WHO/UNICEF JMP | 2024 | Shows how many people have at least basic drinking water access, but not full service quality on its own. |
| Agricultural water use share | 76.3% | FAO AQUASTAT | 2022 | Shows how strongly national water demand is concentrated in agriculture. |
| Drought exposure | Medium (0.4-0.6) | WRI Aqueduct | Baseline | Shows how strongly climate variability can intensify water supply pressure. |
| Groundwater pressure | Moderate groundwater pressure | FAO AQUASTAT | 2022 | Shows how strongly the country depends on stressed groundwater resources. |
| Aqueduct water stress category | High (40-80%) | WRI Aqueduct | Baseline | Shows WRI’s comparative risk category and should not be read as the same metric as FAO water stress %. |
| SDG 6.4.2 threshold band | Low (SDG 6.4.2 threshold) | FAO AQUASTAT / SDG 6.4.2 | Shows the SDG threshold band only; interpret it separately from WRI Aqueduct baseline water stress, which classifies Mexico as High (40-80%). |
Main Pressures
Why water pressure builds and what it means
This section combines the main drivers, pressure points, visible effects, and key takeaways.
The strongest pressure points
Agriculture
Agriculture is a major driver of water demand, accounting for 76.3% of total water withdrawal. This increases sensitivity to irrigation demand, rainfall variability, and seasonal shortages.
Groundwater
Groundwater plays an important balancing role, but pressure levels suggest that some regions may face medium-term sustainability constraints.
Drought Variability
Drought risk is material enough to affect agriculture, reservoirs, and seasonal water availability.
Main causes
High water demand and uneven regional pressure
Mexico’s water stress is driven by the gap between freshwater demand and available renewable water resources. National water stress is 44.9%, indicating sustained pressure on the country’s water system. That pressure is not evenly distributed: some cities, irrigation zones, and river basins face much stronger stress than the national average suggests. This makes Mexico’s water risk a structural challenge shaped by demand, geography, climate variability, and long-term water management.
Agriculture is the main driver of water withdrawal
Agriculture is central to Mexico’s water-risk profile because it accounts for 76.3% of total freshwater withdrawal. Irrigation demand places long-term pressure on rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers, especially in dry or heavily farmed regions. This means Mexico’s water risk is closely tied to how efficiently agricultural water is used, how irrigation systems are managed, and how farming adapts to drought, groundwater pressure, and regional water scarcity.
Drought intensifies pressure on already stressed water systems
Drought adds another layer to Mexico’s water risk. When rainfall is low or seasonal variability increases, surface-water supplies, reservoirs, soil moisture, and groundwater recharge all come under greater pressure. In Mexico, drought risk matters because it interacts with existing water stress, agricultural demand, and groundwater dependence. Even a medium drought-exposure signal can become serious when withdrawals are already high and local water reserves are limited.
Groundwater pressure increases long-term water-security risk
Groundwater plays an important role in Mexico’s water supply, especially where surface water is limited or unreliable. When aquifers are used faster than they can naturally recharge, groundwater pressure becomes a long-term water-security risk. In Mexico, this matters because irrigation demand, urban growth, and dry regional conditions can all increase dependence on underground water. Groundwater stress is not always immediately visible, but it can reduce resilience during drought and make future water management more difficult.
High access does not always mean reliable or safely managed service
Mexico has very high at least basic drinking-water access at 99.5%, but access alone does not remove water risk. WHO/UNICEF JMP service levels distinguish between basic and safely managed drinking water, and Mexico’s profile shows safely managed drinking-water access at 43%, far below the basic-access figure. This means the infrastructure challenge is not only coverage, but also service quality, reliability, continuity, and resilience across regions and communities.
How pressure becomes visible
Water Stress
Water stress shows up through competing demand across agriculture, households, industry, and ecosystems.
Drinking Water Access
Drinking water pressure shows up through access, quality, reliability, and service differences between places and populations.
Drought and Variability
Drought and climate variability amplify water pressure by reducing supply reliability and increasing seasonal exposure.
What the numbers suggest
Water stress is a resource signal
With water stress at 44.9%, pressure on available water resources is high enough to shape the broader national water picture, not just isolated local shortages.
Access does not erase risk
Basic drinking water access at 99.5% does not remove underlying water risk, because service quality, reliability, and regional differences can still remain significant under high system pressure.
Agriculture is central to demand
Agricultural water use at 76.3% shows that farming remains the dominant driver of national water demand and a major source of long-term pressure on water systems.
Climate variability amplifies pressure
A drought exposure rating of Medium (0.4-0.6) means climate variability can intensify existing stress and make dry periods more disruptive for supply and reliability.
Long-Term Story
The longer-term story
This section combines trend evidence, forward-looking signals, and the broader country narrative.
Trend summary
Mexico shows a persistent need to manage water demand, service resilience, and climate-related supply variability together.
Across public datasets, the overall picture is one of overlapping stress: demand pressures, uneven service outcomes, and climate-linked variability all contribute to the water risk profile.
Trend indicators
Water stress level
Mexico’s water stress level is 44.9%, meaning total freshwater withdrawals place significant pressure on available renewable freshwater resources. Under SDG 6.4.2, water stress measures freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available renewable freshwater resources after accounting for environmental flow requirements. This points to a structural water-management challenge, especially where demand from agriculture, cities, industry, and dry regional conditions overlap. It should be read as a country-level pressure signal rather than proof that every region faces the same level of scarcity.
Agricultural water withdrawal
Agriculture accounts for 76.3% of Mexico’s total freshwater withdrawal, making irrigation one of the main drivers of long-term water pressure. This matters because agricultural demand can remain high even outside severe drought periods, especially in dry or groundwater-dependent regions. In Mexico, water-risk trends are therefore closely linked to irrigation efficiency, crop patterns, aquifer management, and drought resilience. This indicator is best read as a measure of how strongly national water demand is concentrated in agriculture.
Aqueduct water stress category
Mexico’s WRI Aqueduct baseline water stress category is High (40–80%), reinforcing the picture of a country facing meaningful long-term water pressure. This category is useful for identifying places where water demand may compete with limited available supply, but it should not be treated as the same metric as FAO AQUASTAT water stress %. For Mexico, the Aqueduct category is best interpreted alongside SDG 6.4.2 water stress, drought exposure, groundwater pressure, and agricultural demand rather than as a standalone diagnosis.
What to watch
- Watch whether agricultural water demand remains high. Agriculture accounts for 76.3% of Mexico’s total freshwater withdrawal, so irrigation efficiency, crop choices, and drought resilience in farming regions will strongly shape future water stress. If agricultural demand stays high while drought exposure or groundwater pressure increases, Mexico’s long-term water-security risk may worsen.
- Watch groundwater pressure in dry and fast-growing regions. Groundwater can buffer short-term shortages, but long-term overuse reduces resilience when rainfall is low or surface-water supplies are limited. In Mexico, this matters because irrigation demand, urban growth, and regional climate variability can all increase dependence on aquifers.
- Watch the gap between basic drinking-water access and safely managed service. Mexico has 99.5% at least basic drinking-water access, but only 43% safely managed drinking-water access, showing that headline access does not always mean reliable, high-quality, and continuously available service. This gap is one of the clearest signals to monitor when assessing water security in Mexico.
- Watch whether drought exposure turns existing pressure into acute shortages. In Mexico, drought risk becomes most serious when it overlaps with high withdrawals, agricultural dependence, groundwater pressure, and uneven regional supply. Medium drought exposure should therefore be read together with water stress and demand pressures, not as a standalone signal.
The story behind the data
Mexico faces overlapping water pressures from demand, infrastructure, and climate variability.
Public datasets point to pressure across water availability, drinking water service conditions, and sectoral demand.
This profile should be read as a comparative public-data overview rather than a single harmonized statistical series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about water risk in Mexico
Is Mexico facing a water crisis?
Mexico is facing significant water pressure, and in many regions it can reasonably be described as a water crisis. The country’s profile shows 44.9% water stress, high agricultural water demand, drought exposure, and uneven regional pressure across river basins and aquifers. Even though basic drinking-water access is very high at 99.5%, Mexico still faces a structural water-risk challenge because access alone does not remove long-term pressure on water resources.
What causes water stress in Mexico?
Water stress in Mexico is driven mainly by high water demand relative to available renewable freshwater resources. Agriculture is the biggest factor, accounting for 76.3% of total freshwater withdrawal, while drought exposure, groundwater dependence, urban demand, and strong regional differences add further pressure. As a result, Mexico’s water stress is not just a short-term weather issue but a long-term water-management challenge.
Does everyone in Mexico have access to safe drinking water?
No, not everyone in Mexico has access to safely managed drinking water. While 99.5% of the population has at least basic drinking-water access, only 43% has safely managed drinking water according to the country profile. In JMP reporting, “basic” and “safely managed” are different service levels, so high basic access should not be interpreted as universal access to water that is safe, reliable, and available when needed.
Why is agriculture so important in Mexico’s water risk?
Agriculture is central to Mexico’s water risk because it accounts for 76.3% of total freshwater withdrawal. This means irrigation demand plays a major role in shaping national water stress, especially in dry or water-stressed regions. When agricultural systems depend heavily on rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater, pressure can remain high even when household water access is relatively strong.
Sources
What powers this profile
Which source powers which metric
- Population: World Bank
- Water stress: FAO AQUASTAT
- Drinking water: WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Agriculture: FAO AQUASTAT
- Drought: WRI Aqueduct
- Groundwater: FAO AQUASTAT
Methodology
How to read the data
This country profile combines World Bank API indicators with structured country feeds derived from JMP, AQUASTAT, and Aqueduct. Indicators come from different systems and years, so they should be interpreted together as a comparative public-data profile rather than a single harmonized statistical series.
FAO AQUASTAT SDG 6.4.2 water stress is a percentage-based national withdrawal indicator, while WRI Aqueduct baseline water stress is a separate risk-category system. These two metrics should be interpreted together, not treated as the same classification.Data confidence
Indicators may come from different years and sources and should be interpreted together as a comparative public-data profile rather than a single harmonized statistical series.