In some regions around the world, water consumption has surpassed natural replenishment rates, raising serious concerns about sustainability and the long-term availability of this vital resource.
According to visualcapitalist, countries with scores above 100% are using more water than is naturally available each year, often relying on groundwater depletion or desalination to close the gap. Data comes from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Water is essential across agriculture, manufacturing, and daily life, making these imbalances increasingly important as climate patterns shift and demand rises.
Water Stress Levels by Country
Dive into the latest data, which is from 2022, below:
Some countries operate at 10–30x their natural water budget.
Kuwait leads by a wide margin, using the equivalent of 3,850% of its renewable water supply. The United Arab Emirates follows at 1,509.9%, highlighting a heavy reliance on desalination and non-renewable groundwater.
High water stress countries are clustered around the Middle East and North Africa, given they have naturally arid climates, meaning a slow supply of natural water. Some countries also have water intensive agriculture industries, which adds pressure.
Saudi Arabia is the third most water stressed country, at 974.2% its natural resources, while Libya and Qatar follow at 817.1% and 431%.
Even at a more modest level, countries are still overdrawn. Pakistan and Jordan hover above the 100% mark, at 110% and 105% respectively.
China uses 41.5% of its renewable water resources, while the U.S. is at 28.2%.
Elsewhere, Papua New Guinea, Bolivia and DRC have huge water reserves but are relatively underdeveloped economies, meaning water stress is negligible. The DRC, for example, is home to 62% of the Congo Basin, which is the world’s second-largest river system.
Congo is the only country in the dataset with zero water stress.
A Reliance on Artificial Water
Countries that cash in their full water budget rely on non-renewable sources to plug that gap.
One tactic is fossil groundwater mining, which is where water from deep underground is pumped up but for use but there isn’t enough rainwater to replenish aquifers. While this is practiced in the Middle East and North Africa, it’s also widespread across the U.S. and China.
Countries in arid regions like the Middle East are leaders in desalination technology, which converts saltwater into drinking water. This process is typically energy intensive and expensive but recent advances in technology have made it more viable, making it an interesting investment theme.
As climate patterns shift and demand continues to rise, water availability is becoming a more critical constraint on growth.
Countries operating beyond their natural water limits will likely need to expand desalination, manage demand more aggressively, or invest in more efficient infrastructure—turning water into a key economic and strategic issue in the years ahead.
