There are differences between the water consumption patterns of developing countries and developed countries — Edexcel GCSE Geography A
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There are differences between the water consumption patterns of developing countries and developed countries explained
There are differences between the water consumption patterns of developing countries and developed countries covers 2 specification points, including A.
Read the full explanation
The proportion of water used by… and B. Why there are differences in water usage…. Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
a. The proportion of water used by agriculture, industry and domestic in developed countries and emerging or developing countries.
This statement asks you to compare how water withdrawals are divided between agriculture, industry and domestic use in developed countries and in emerging or developing countries. Work with proportions, meaning each sector's share of total withdrawals expressed as a percentage, rather than raw volumes. Learn the broad pattern, since exact figures vary by source and year. Many emerging or developing countries put agriculture first, often above half of withdrawals, because irrigated food production dominates. Many developed countries show a larger industrial share and a smaller agricultural share. Domestic use is usually a smaller percentage than agriculture in both groups. Example: if agriculture is 80% and domestic is 5%, industry must be 15%, because the three shares total 100%. In multiple-choice questions, add the sector shares and check the group pattern before choosing.
b. Why there are differences in water usage between developed countries and emerging or developing countries.
This statement asks you to explain why water usage differs between developed countries and emerging or developing countries, so you must give causes, not only describe the pattern. Build each reason as a chain: a condition, then its effect on withdrawals. Economic development is central, because industrial growth raises industrial demand and higher incomes often mean more piped domestic supply and appliances. Agriculture drives use in many emerging or developing countries, where irrigation supports food production. Climate and water availability matter too, as arid areas often need more irrigation. Population size, infrastructure such as distribution networks, technology that improves efficiency, and pricing or policy also shape usage. Example: a country that irrigates crops for food production has high agricultural withdrawals because irrigation requires large volumes of water.
Your focus
- Identify the largest sector of water withdrawal in a given country group from a percentage breakdown.
- Compare sector proportions between developed and emerging or developing countries.
- Check that sector percentages sum to 100% before selecting an answer.
Show all 6 objectives
- Explain how economic development changes industrial and domestic water demand.
- Explain how irrigation for food production increases agricultural water withdrawals in emerging or developing countries.
- Justify which factor most strongly accounts for differences between the two country groups.
There are differences between the water consumption patterns of developing countries and developed countries exam tips
Marking Points
- Identifies that agriculture usually takes the largest share of withdrawals in emerging or developing countries.
- Identifies that industry usually takes a larger share of withdrawals in developed countries than in emerging or developing countries.
- Recognises that domestic use is usually a smaller percentage than agriculture in both groups of countries.
- Expresses each sector as a percentage share of total withdrawals rather than as a raw volume.
- Checks that the three sector shares in an option add up to 100%.
- Explains that economic development raises industrial and domestic water demand through growth and rising incomes.
- Links irrigation for food production to high agricultural withdrawals in many emerging or developing countries.
- Identifies climate and water availability as factors that increase or reduce the need for irrigation.
- Links infrastructure and access to piped water with the scale of domestic use.
- Connects each reason to a clear effect on water usage rather than listing causes alone.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Read every option and add the three sector percentages before selecting one.
- 💡Keep the two country groups separate when comparing each sector's share.
- 💡Eliminate options that reverse the broad agricultural pattern between the two groups.
- 💡Write each reason as a cause followed by its effect on water usage.
- 💡Use at least two different factors and link them to the two country groups.
- 💡Use named case study evidence from your course to support explanations where it is available.
Common Mistakes
- Confuses volume with proportion; correct by checking whether the option gives a percentage share of the total.
- Assumes developed countries use most water for agriculture; correct by recognising that industry often takes a larger share in these countries.
- Treats one example country as representative of the whole group; correct by using the broad pattern across the group.
- Selects an option whose sector percentages do not total 100%; correct by adding the three sector shares before choosing.
- Describes the pattern of water use without explaining why it occurs; correct by adding a causal link for each reason.
- Attributes all differences to population size alone; correct by combining several factors such as development, climate and infrastructure.
- Assumes all emerging or developing countries have the same water use; correct by recognising variation between individual countries.
- Gives a reason with no stated effect on water usage; correct by stating how the factor changes withdrawals.