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Desalination Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global desalination market is worth USD 28.1 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 60.6 bn by 2036, growing at a 8.0% CAGR. Saudi Arabia is the largest country market and Reverse osmosis is the largest by technology segment.

USD 28.1 bnMarket size 2026
USD 60.6 bnForecast 2036
8.0%CAGR 2026-2036
Saudi ArabiaLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global desalination market is worth USD 28.1 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 60.6 bn by 2036, growing at a 8.0% CAGR. Saudi Arabia is the largest country market and Reverse osmosis is the largest by technology segment.

ScopeDesalination of seawater and brackish water: revenue from desalinated water produced and sold, covering reverse osmosis and thermal plants for municipal and industrial customers.
IndustryChemicals and Materials
Value 2025USD 26.0 bn
Value 2026USD 28.1 bn
Value 2036USD 60.6 bn
CAGR 2026-20368.0%
Volume 202635,463 million cubic metres
Volume 203672,836 million cubic metres
Average price 2026USD 0.79 per cubic metre
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Desalination market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global desalination market is forecast to grow from USD 28.1 bn in 2026 to USD 60.6 bn by 2036, more than doublingGlobal market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 8.0%
Desalination market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 26.0 bn; 2026: USD 28.1 bn; 2027: USD 30.3 bn; 2028: USD 32.8 bn; 2029: USD 35.4 bn; 2030: USD 38.2 bn; 2031: USD 41.3 bn; 2032: USD 44.6 bn; 2033: USD 48.1 bn; 2034: USD 52.0 bn; 2035: USD 56.1 bn; 2036: USD 60.6 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 8.0%.202528.1 bn202641.3 bn203160.6 bn20368.0% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 28.1 bn
2027USD 30.3 bn
2028USD 32.8 bn
2029USD 35.4 bn
2030USD 38.2 bn
2031USD 41.3 bn
2032USD 44.6 bn
2033USD 48.1 bn
2034USD 52.0 bn
2035USD 56.1 bn
2036USD 60.6 bn

Desalination market segmentation

By technology

Exhibit 2Reverse osmosis is the largest segment by technology, with 70.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by technology
Desalination market share by technology, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by technology. Reverse osmosis: 70.0%; Multi-stage flash: 15.0%; Multi-effect distillation: 8.0%; Electrodialysis and others: 7.0%.Reverse osmosis70.0%Multi-stage flash15.0%Multi-effect distillation8.0%Electrodialysis and others7.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Reverse osmosis70.0%77.0%USD 19.7 bn9.0%
Multi-stage flash15.0%9.4%USD 4.2 bn3.0%
Multi-effect distillation8.0%6.7%USD 2.2 bn6.0%
Electrodialysis and others7.0%7.0%USD 2.0 bn8.0%

By source

Exhibit 3Seawater adds the most revenue by source, growing from USD 17.4 bn in 2026 to USD 39.0 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by source, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Desalination market by source, 2026 and 2036Revenue by source in 2026 and 2036. Seawater: USD 17.4 bn in 2026, USD 39.0 bn in 2036, change +124%; Brackish water: USD 7.9 bn in 2026, USD 15.3 bn in 2036, change +95%; River and wastewater: USD 2.8 bn in 2026, USD 6.3 bn in 2036, change +124%.20262036 forecastChangeSeawater+124%17.4 bn39.0 bnBrackish water+95%7.9 bn15.3 bnRiver and wastewater+124%2.8 bn6.3 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Seawater62.0%64.3%USD 17.4 bn8.4%
Brackish water28.0%25.3%USD 7.9 bn6.9%
River and wastewater10.0%10.4%USD 2.8 bn8.4%

By end use

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Municipal63.0%62.9%USD 17.7 bn8.0%
Industrial25.0%26.2%USD 7.0 bn8.5%
Power and others12.0%10.9%USD 3.4 bn7.0%

By plant capacity

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Small (below 10,000 m3 per day)21.0%17.0%USD 5.9 bn5.7%
Medium (10,000 to 100,000 m3 per day)39.0%38.0%USD 11.0 bn7.7%
Large (above 100,000 m3 per day)40.0%45.0%USD 11.2 bn9.3%

By ownership model

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Public build and operate34.0%29.0%USD 9.5 bn6.3%
Public-private concession and water purchase46.0%51.0%USD 12.9 bn9.1%
Private captive plants20.0%20.0%USD 5.6 bn8.0%

Top 25 countries for desalination by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 72.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 92.2%.

Exhibit 4Saudi Arabia is the largest country market at USD 5.3 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 41.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Desalination market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. Saudi Arabia: USD 5.3 bn, 19.0%; United Arab Emirates: USD 3.9 bn, 14.0%; United States: USD 2.2 bn, 8.0%; China: USD 2.2 bn, 8.0%; Kuwait: USD 1.4 bn, 5.0%; Israel: USD 1.1 bn, 4.0%; Spain: USD 1.1 bn, 4.0%; Egypt: USD 983 mn, 3.5%; Algeria: USD 983 mn, 3.5%; Qatar: USD 842 mn, 3.0%.Saudi Arabia5.3 bn 19.0%United Arab Emirates3.9 bn 14.0%United States2.2 bn 8.0%China2.2 bn 8.0%Kuwait1.4 bn 5.0%Israel1.1 bn 4.0%Spain1.1 bn 4.0%Egypt983 mn 3.5%Algeria983 mn 3.5%Qatar842 mn 3.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1Saudi ArabiaUSD 5.3 bn19.0%USD 11.8 bn8.3%
2United Arab EmiratesUSD 3.9 bn14.0%USD 7.9 bn7.3%
3United StatesUSD 2.2 bn8.0%USD 4.5 bn7.3%
4ChinaUSD 2.2 bn8.0%USD 5.7 bn9.8%
5KuwaitUSD 1.4 bn5.0%USD 2.6 bn6.4%
6IsraelUSD 1.1 bn4.0%USD 2.1 bn6.3%
7SpainUSD 1.1 bn4.0%USD 2.1 bn6.3%
8EgyptUSD 983 mn3.5%USD 2.6 bn10.2%
9AlgeriaUSD 983 mn3.5%USD 2.4 bn9.2%
10QatarUSD 842 mn3.0%USD 1.6 bn6.5%
11AustraliaUSD 536 mn1.9%USD 1.1 bn7.8%
12OmanUSD 505 mn1.8%USD 1.1 bn8.5%
13MoroccoUSD 446 mn1.6%USD 1.1 bn9.2%
14IndiaUSD 446 mn1.6%USD 1.1 bn9.2%
15BahrainUSD 418 mn1.5%USD 885 mn7.8%
16ChileUSD 418 mn1.5%USD 946 mn8.5%
17IranUSD 357 mn1.3%USD 758 mn7.8%
18SingaporeUSD 357 mn1.3%USD 758 mn7.8%
19LibyaUSD 329 mn1.2%USD 740 mn8.4%
20JapanUSD 329 mn1.2%USD 643 mn6.9%
21MexicoUSD 329 mn1.2%USD 740 mn8.4%
22JordanUSD 329 mn1.2%USD 740 mn8.4%
23South AfricaUSD 298 mn1.1%USD 673 mn8.5%
24IraqUSD 298 mn1.1%USD 673 mn8.5%
25ItalyUSD 267 mn0.9%USD 527 mn7.0%
Rest of worldUSD 2.2 bn7.8%USD 4.8 bn8.2%
Exhibit 5Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates account for 32% of the USD 32.5 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Desalination market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 28.1 bn. Saudi Arabia: +USD 6.5 bn; United Arab Emirates: +USD 4.0 bn; China: +USD 3.5 bn; United States: +USD 2.3 bn; Egypt: +USD 1.6 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 12.1 bn; Rest of world: +USD 2.6 bn. Market value 2036: USD 60.6 bn.Market value 202628.1 bnSaudi Arabia+6.5 bnUnited Arab Emirates+4.0 bnChina+3.5 bnUnited States+2.3 bnEgypt+1.6 bn20 other countries+12.1 bnRest of world+2.6 bnMarket value 203660.6 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • ACWA Power
  • Veolia
  • Acciona
  • Doosan Enerbility
  • Abengoa
  • FCC Aqualia
  • Hitachi Zosen

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Suez
  • IDE Technologies
  • Aquatech International
  • Sacyr
  • VA Tech Wabag
  • Biwater
  • Sembcorp Industries
  • GS Inima Environment

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Metito
  • Befesa Agua
  • Fisia Italimpianti
  • Energy Recovery

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the desalination market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 8.0% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by technology, by source, by end use, by plant capacity, by ownership model. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the desalination market?

The global desalination market is estimated at USD 26.0 bn in 2025 and USD 28.1 bn in 2026.

How fast will the desalination market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 60.6 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 8.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 32.5 bn.

Which country is the largest market for desalination?

Saudi Arabia is the largest market by revenue at USD 5.3 bn in 2026, 19.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 41.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, Egypt is growing fastest at 10.2% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which desalination segment is largest?

In the by technology split, Reverse osmosis is the largest segment with 70.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading desalination companies?

Global leaders include ACWA Power, Veolia, Acciona, Doosan Enerbility.

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