Australians are spending an average of $580 a year on bottled water, making us the second-biggest consumer globally

Australians spent an average of $580 buying 504 litres of bottled water per person in 2021, according to a new United Nations report.

It is the world's second highest consumption rate, per capita, behind Singapore.

Australians are also paying vastly more than anywhere else for bottled water.

The primary answer is convenience, the Australian Beverages Council says.

The market generated $650 million in revenue last year, with a long-term growth rate of 16 per cent per year.