U.S. irrigated acreage and water use per acre irrigated, 1890-2018

Irrigated acres (million)
Water use (acre feet/acre irrigated)

Line chart with 129 groups (years) and 2 lines.

Group 1, 1890.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 3.631381.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 2, 1891.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 3, 1892.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 4, 1893.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 5, 1894.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 6, 1895.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 7, 1896.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 8, 1897.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 9, 1898.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 10, 1899.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 11, 1900.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 8.874408.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 12, 1901.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 13, 1902.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 14, 1903.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 15, 1904.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 16, 1905.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 17, 1906.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 18, 1907.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 19, 1908.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 20, 1909.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 21, 1910.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 14.433285.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 22, 1911.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 23, 1912.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 24, 1913.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 25, 1914.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 26, 1915.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 27, 1916.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 28, 1917.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 29, 1918.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 30, 1919.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 31, 1920.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 19.191715.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 32, 1921.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 33, 1922.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 34, 1923.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 35, 1924.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 36, 1925.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 37, 1926.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 38, 1927.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 39, 1928.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 40, 1929.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 41, 1930.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 19.547544.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 42, 1931.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 43, 1932.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 44, 1933.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 45, 1934.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 46, 1935.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 47, 1936.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 48, 1937.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 49, 1938.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 50, 1939.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 51, 1940.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 21.00574.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 52, 1941.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 53, 1942.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 54, 1943.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 55, 1944.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 56, 1945.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 57, 1946.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 58, 1947.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 59, 1948.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 60, 1949.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 25.787455.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 61, 1950.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 62, 1951.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 63, 1952.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 64, 1953.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 65, 1954.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 29.552155.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 66, 1955.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 67, 1956.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 68, 1957.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 69, 1958.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 70, 1959.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 33.021797.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 71, 1960.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 72, 1961.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 73, 1962.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 74, 1963.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 75, 1964.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 37.056084.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 76, 1965.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 77, 1966.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 78, 1967.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 79, 1968.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 80, 1969.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 39.121693.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 2.108699.
Group 81, 1970.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 82, 1971.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 83, 1972.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 84, 1973.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 85, 1974.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 41.243023.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 2.08674.
Group 86, 1975.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 87, 1976.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 88, 1977.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 89, 1978.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 50.349907.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 90, 1979.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.855691.
Group 91, 1980.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 92, 1981.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 93, 1982.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 49.002434.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 94, 1983.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.80571.
Group 95, 1984.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 96, 1985.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 97, 1986.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 98, 1987.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 46.3862.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 99, 1988.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.76284.
Group 100, 1989.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 101, 1990.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 102, 1991.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 103, 1992.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 49.40403.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 104, 1993.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 105, 1994.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.715428.
Group 106, 1995.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 107, 1996.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 108, 1997.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 56.289173.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 109, 1998.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.7942.
Group 110, 1999.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 111, 2000.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 112, 2001.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 113, 2002.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 55.311237.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 114, 2003.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.652498.
Group 115, 2004.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 116, 2005.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 117, 2006.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 118, 2007.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 56.599304.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 119, 2008.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.660935.
Group 120, 2009.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 121, 2010.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 122, 2011.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 123, 2012.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 55.82223.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 124, 2013.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.599995.
Group 125, 2014.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 126, 2015.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 127, 2016.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 128, 2017.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) 58.01391.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) No data.
Group 129, 2018.
Bar 1, Irrigated acres (left scale) No data.
Line 1, Water use (right scale) 1.490575.

Note: An acre foot of water equals about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover an acre of land 1-foot deep.
Sources: Irrigated acreage data are from USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service and predecessors, Census of Agriculture (1890-2017). Water use data are from USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Irrigation and Drainage on Farms (1969, 1974), Farm and Ranch Irrigagion Survey (1979-2013), and the Irrigation and Water Management Survey (2018).