Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
17 January 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
15 April 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
15 April 2025
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation; which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature'.
Among other things, SDG 6 calls for ensuring universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and ending open defecation. It also aims at improving water quality and water-use efficiency and encouraging sustainable abstractions and supply of freshwater. Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems such as forests, mountains, wetlands and rivers is essential for mitigating water scarcity, as is the implementation of integrated water resources management.
Indicator can be considered as global SDG indicator 6.4.2 "Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources".
The Water Framework Directive is the main European legislation aiming to - among others - to promote sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 supports the implementation of the Water Framework Directive’s objective by requiring Member States to restore freshwater ecosystems.
The 8th Environment Action Programme sets the environmental policy agenda for the years from 2021 to 2030 and explicitly mentions water-related issues in two of its six priority objectives. These two objectives are: (1) pursuing a zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free-environment, including for air, water and soil and protecting the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts; and (2) protecting, preserving and restoring biodiversity and enhancing natural capital, notably air, water, soil, and forest, freshwater, wetland and marine ecosystems.
4.1. Data description
The water exploitation index (WEI+) provides a measure of total water consumption as a percentage of the renewable freshwater resources available for a given territory and period. It quantifies how much water is abstracted and how much water is returned to the environment by economic sectors before or after use. The difference between water abstractions and water returns is regarded as ‘water consumption’. In the absence of Europe-wide agreed formal targets, values above 20 % are generally considered to be a sign of water scarcity, while values equal or greater than 40 % indicate situations of severe water scarcity, meaning the use of freshwater resources is unsustainable.
Annual calculations of the WEI+ at national level do not reflect uneven spatial and seasonal distribution of resources and may therefore mask water stress, which occurs on a seasonal or regional basis.
The indicator is produced by the EEA based on modelling data from the WISE SoE-Water quantity database (WISE 3) and other open sources (Eurostat, OECD) and including gap filling methods.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of renewable freshwater resources
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The original data is available in the EIONET (European Environment Information and Observation Network) Central Data Repository. The Waterbase contains data on freshwater resources availability, water abstraction and water use at national or regional scale. The data was delivered between 2002 and 2024 by EEA member countries and cooperating countries, in the scope of the current WISE SoE - Water Quantity (WISE-3) reporting obligation. The national data deliveries are compiled into a European-wide Waterbase. The data is used for EEA core set indicators that assess the state, trends in water related pressures and monitor the progress of European policy objectives. Data from Eurostat/OECD Joint Questionnaire on Inland Waters and Eurostat Regional Water Questionnaire is also used as complementary source.
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
EEA
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Data modelling based on data from the WISE SoE-Water quantity database (WISE 3) and other open sources (JRC, Eurostat, OECD, FAO) and including gap filling methods.
Data provider: European Environment Agency (EEA).
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year
5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Data is disseminated annually.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years
5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS
6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States; plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye, and Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99).
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS
6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years
6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU27_2020) starts in 2000.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points
6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points. Comparability over time is generally good, but can be limited due to data gaps and breaks in series.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
The water exploitation index (WEI+) provides a measure of total water consumption as a percentage of the renewable freshwater resources available for a given territory and period. It quantifies how much water is abstracted and how much water is returned to the environment by economic sectors before or after use. The difference between water abstractions and water returns is regarded as ‘water consumption’. In the absence of Europe-wide agreed formal targets, values above 20 % are generally considered to be a sign of water scarcity, while values equal or greater than 40 % indicate situations of severe water scarcity, meaning the use of freshwater resources is unsustainable.
Annual calculations of the WEI+ at national level do not reflect uneven spatial and seasonal distribution of resources and may therefore mask water stress, which occurs on a seasonal or regional basis.
The indicator is produced by the EEA based on modelling data from the WISE SoE-Water quantity database (WISE 3) and other open sources (Eurostat, OECD) and including gap filling methods.
15 April 2025
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Calendar year.
The original data is available in the EIONET (European Environment Information and Observation Network) Central Data Repository. The Waterbase contains data on freshwater resources availability, water abstraction and water use at national or regional scale. The data was delivered between 2002 and 2024 by EEA member countries and cooperating countries, in the scope of the current WISE SoE - Water Quantity (WISE-3) reporting obligation. The national data deliveries are compiled into a European-wide Waterbase. The data is used for EEA core set indicators that assess the state, trends in water related pressures and monitor the progress of European policy objectives. Data from Eurostat/OECD Joint Questionnaire on Inland Waters and Eurostat Regional Water Questionnaire is also used as complementary source.
