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Large-scale afforestation is a common measure to control desertification and soil erosion, especially in China. However, the massive afforestation may consume excessive water resources and cause the severe water shortage in the arid and semiarid regions. To understand the water consumption characteristics of afforestation, this study identifies the afforestation area and chooses the Water Footprint (WF) and Ecological Water Deficit (EWD) as the indicators to assess its water consumption, taking the Inner Mongolia as the typical arid and semiarid study area. The results showed that afforestation area in Inner Mongolia increased by 38,397.38 km2 and NDVI presented a rising trend during 2000–2015. The afforestation WF increased from east to west in Inner Mongolia, with a maximum difference of 268.02 mm. Due to the difference distribution of precipitation, the afforestation EWD ranging from 74.6 mm to 609.9 mm which indicated that afforestation has suffered from different degrees of water shortage in Inner Mongolia. In the long term, afforestation might exacerbate the water shortage and soil erosion in Inner Mongolia. Therefore, afforestation should take full account of local water conditions, and government should seek other ways such as conserve natural vegetation to make the restoration more sustainable. • The afforestation area was identified in Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2015. • The Water Footprint (WF) and Ecological Water Deficit (EWD) of afforestation were calculated for the study area. • The afforestation WF increased from eastern to western Inner Mongolia, showing variation with the precipitation. • All afforestation areas suffered from water deficit ranging from 14.45 mm to 608.90 mm, increasing the groundwater pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]