This study analyzes the spatiotemporal pattern of major indicators of urban WUE. It also explores the synchronization between WUE and water-saving degree, as well as the matching degree between WUE, water pressure and economic development level. The results show that, the water consumption per 10 000 yuan of industrial added value decreased by 80% in 2017 compared with that in 1998 in China, with less spatial discrepancy in regions. Domestic water consumption per capita increases by 30% during the same period, and is slightly better than the median of the similar economic and social development countries. By 2017, the reuse rate of industrial water in half cities increases to 80%, and the average of the leakage rate of water supply pipe networks is about 15%. There are still problems of unbalanced spatial matching either between WUE and water pressure, or between WUE and economic development level. To the east of the “Heihe-Tengchong Line”, the central China and southeast China are with abundant water resources, large population, well-developed economy, high water pressure but low WUE, and still have great water-saving potential.