The Country At Most Risk As Water Scarcity Becomes More Severe Globally

As a natural resource, water is one of the most fundamental factors in the shaping of human civilization. The earliest societies were formed around proximity to water, while many modern cities are dependent on massive dams and aquifers.

While globally there are about 5,430 cubic meters of renewable freshwater per person on planet Earth, many countries have little to no natural water resources. In dozens of countries, water levels fall below the UN threshold for absolute water scarcity of 500 cubic meters per person. Limited natural water supplies create severe challenges for food production, energy generation, and economic growth, and can heighten the risk of conflict and humanitarian crises.

The countries with the fewest natural water sources fall into several thematic groups. Wealthy, arid Gulf states like Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait have less than 20 cubic meters of renewable freshwater per person, and rely on desalination plants and imported food to sustain their populations. Small island nations like Malta, Bahrain, and the Maldives also face limited freshwater endowments due to their size and geography, making them dependent on rainwater harvesting, desalination, or imports. Meanwhile, countries in North Africa and the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen, stretch scarce water supplies across large populations and water-intensive agricultural sectors, driving some of the highest levels of water stress in the world. Even in relatively water-rich regions like sub-Saharan Africa, rapid population growth and weak infrastructure in countries like Niger, Somalia, and Sudan leave people with minimal renewable water per capita. A closer look at the data reveals the countries with the least natural water.

To determine the countries with the least natural water, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on natural resources from the World Bank. Countries were ranked based on renewable internal freshwater resources per capita. Renewable water resources include average annual flow of rivers and recharge of aquifers generated from endogenous precipitation. Supplemental data on electric power consumption per capita, fossil fuel energy consumption as a percentage of total, gross domestic product, and water productivity are also from the World Bank.

40. Benin

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 767.9 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 105.3 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 39.6% of total
Gross domestic product: $21.5 billion ($1,435 per capita)
Water productivity: +$121.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Bohicon, Djougou, Dassa-Zoumé, Materi, Parakou, Natitingou, Lokossa, Possotomè

39. South Africa

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 728.4 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 3,357.9 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 93.3% of total
Gross domestic product: $400.3 billion ($6,253 per capita)
Water productivity: +$16.9 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Evaton, Klipgat, Phuthaditjhaba, Bloemfontein, Edendale

38. Rwanda

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 711.3 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 68.1 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 11.6% of total
Gross domestic product: $14.3 billion ($1,000 per capita)
Water productivity: +$19.6 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Kigali, Mukamira, Cyangugu, Musanze, Kora, Mukina, Muhanga, Shangi

37. Netherlands

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 627.4 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 6,198.0 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 83.5% of total
Gross domestic product: $1.2 trillion ($62,537 per capita)
Water productivity: +$109.8 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Heerlen, Leiden, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Dordrecht, Haarlem, Arnhem, Tilburg

36. Bangladesh

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 626.3 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 602.7 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 83.1% of total
Gross domestic product: $450.1 billion ($2,529 per capita)
Water productivity: +$8.0 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Dhaka, Comilla, Chattogram, Khulna, Sirajganj, Brahmanbaria, Noakhali, Bogura, Tangail, Rangpur

35. Moldova

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 624.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 2,255.7 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 81.3% of total
Gross domestic product: $18.2 billion ($6,651 per capita)
Water productivity: +$11.3 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Chișinău, Tiraspol, Bălți, Bender, Camenca, Ungheni, Basarabeasca, Căușeni, Soroca

34. Hungary

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 623.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 4,601.7 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 64.2% of total
Gross domestic product: $222.9 billion ($22,147 per capita)
Water productivity: +$32.5 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Budapest, Miskolc, Békéscsaba, Szeged, Pécs, Tatabánya, Zalaegerszeg, Székesfehérvár, Veszprém

33. Cyprus

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 592.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 3,848.7 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 86.5% of total
Gross domestic product: $36.3 billion ($34,701 per capita)
Water productivity: +$115.8 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Pafos, Dromolaxia, Paralimni, Latsia, Dali, Ypsonas, Xylofagou

32. Cabo Verde

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 580.7 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $2.8 billion ($4,322 per capita)
Water productivity: +$10.5 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Joío Teves, Assomada (Santa Catarina), Mindelo, Espargos, Porto Novo, Porto De Ribeira Da Barca, Sío Filipe, Praia, Pilío Cío, Pedra Badejo

31. Burkina Faso

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 568.3 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 131.2 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 24.0% of total
Gross domestic product: $23.3 billion ($874 per capita)
Water productivity: +$20.0 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou, Tenkodogo, Ouahigouya, Yako, Dori, Nouna, Tougan, Kaya

30. Antigua and Barbuda

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 563.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $2.2 billion ($21,560 per capita)
Water productivity: +$337.6 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: St. John's

29. St. Kitts and Nevis

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 513.2 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $1.1 billion ($22,553 per capita)
Water productivity: +$72.9 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Basseterre

28. Uzbekistan

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 477.2 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 2,094.1 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 98.4% of total
Gross domestic product: $115.0 billion ($2,496 per capita)
Water productivity: +$2.8 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Tashkent, Qarshi, Samarkand, Turtkul, Jizzax, Namangan, Fergana, Shahrisabz, Andijan, Termez

27. Kenya

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 389.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 190.1 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 19.8% of total
Gross domestic product: $124.5 billion ($1,950 per capita)
Water productivity: +$22.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Thika, Nakuru, Eldoret, Ruaka, Kisii, Kitengela, Ruiru

26. Tunisia

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 348.2 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 1,595.5 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 86.8% of total
Gross domestic product: $53.4 billion ($3,895 per capita)
Water productivity: +$12.2 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Tunis, Sfax, Sousse, Hammamet, Jendouba, Bizerte, Gabes, Béja, Qafsa, Hammam-Lif

25. Somalia

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 347.4 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $12.1 billion ($644 per capita)
Water productivity: +$2.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Baidoa, Burao, Bosaso, Borama, Kismayo, Galkayo, Banaadir, Buurhakaba

24. Syria

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 329.7 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 689.5 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 99.5% of total
Gross domestic product: $20.0 billion ($421 per capita)
Water productivity: +$1.1 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, Hama, Qamishli, Ar Raqqah, Al-Hasakah, Tartus, Manbij

23. Oman

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 311.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 8,157.5 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 99.7% of total
Gross domestic product: $106.9 billion ($23,295 per capita)
Water productivity: +$50.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Al Ghubra, Muscat, Salalah, Seeb, Sur, Ar Rustaq, Saham, Nizwa, Sohar, Sudh

22. Barbados

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 283.5 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $7.2 billion ($22,673 per capita)
Water productivity: +$64.9 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Bridgetown, Oistins, Harrow

21. Djibouti

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 267.6 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $4.1 billion ($3,606 per capita)
Water productivity: +$168.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Djibouti, Sancal, Ali Sabieh, Arta, Tadjoura, Godorya, Dikhil, Bankoualé

20. Algeria

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 251.3 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 1,756.6 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 100.0% of total
Gross domestic product: $263.6 billion ($5,260 per capita)
Water productivity: +$20.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba, Blida, Batna, Skikda, Setif, Tlemcen, Sidi Bel Abbes

19. Pakistan

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 229.7 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 605.8 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 63.9% of total
Gross domestic product: $373.1 billion ($1,407 per capita)
Water productivity: +$1.4 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Quetta

18. Turkmenistan

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 198.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 2,829.2 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 100.0% of total
Gross domestic product: $64.2 billion ($9,191 per capita)
Water productivity: +$2.0 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Ashgabat, Mary, Balkanabat, Konye-Urgench, Turkmenbashy, Turkmenabat, Gurbansoltan Eje, Dashoguz, Serdar

17. West Bank and Gaza

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 164.9 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $13.7 billion ($3,368 per capita)
Water productivity: +$44.9 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Jerusalem, Gaza, Hebron, Tulkarm, Nablus, Idhna, Jenin, Silat Al-Harithiya, Jericho, Nuba

16. Niger

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 142.8 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 62.4 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 24.2% of total
Gross domestic product: $19.5 billion ($618 per capita)
Water productivity: +$5.0 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Niamey, Dosso, Téra, Zinder, Tahoua, Maradi, Birni N'Konni, Tanout, Garbey, Gaya

15. Singapore

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 110.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 10,143.5 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 97.9% of total
Gross domestic product: $547.4 billion ($84,734 per capita)
Water productivity: +$740.7 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Singapore

14. Libya

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 98.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 3,979.1 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 96.3% of total
Gross domestic product: $46.6 billion ($7,330 per capita)
Water productivity: +$9.6 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Qabilat Alturki, Al Zawiyah, Bayda, Tobruk, Marj, Ajdabiya, Sabha

13. Malta

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 97.5 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 5,174.0 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 87.2% of total
Gross domestic product: $24.3 billion ($37,882 per capita)
Water productivity: +$412.1 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Valletta, Żurrieq, Mosta, Xaghra, Victoria, Saint Paul'S Bay

12. Mauritania

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 84.5 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $10.8 billion ($2,149 per capita)
Water productivity: +$5.3 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Nouakchott, Rosso Sénégal, Bogué, Nouadhibou, Atar, Zouérat, Kaédi, Boutilimit, Kiffa

11. Sudan

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 83.2 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 278.8 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 30.2% of total
Gross domestic product: $49.9 billion ($2,272 per capita)
Water productivity: +$1.8 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Khartoum, Al Managil, Geneina, Wad MadanÄ«, Al-Ubayyid, Kosti, Al-Qadarif, Umm Ruwaba, Nyala, Dilling

10. Israel

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 80.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 6,560.8 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 96.5% of total
Gross domestic product: $540.4 billion ($52,262 per capita)
Water productivity: +$249.9 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Ashdod, Nazareth, Netanya, Modi'In Illit, Ashkelon, Qiryat Ata, Eilat

9. Saudi Arabia

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 78.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 11,835.3 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 99.9% of total
Gross domestic product: $1.2 trillion ($28,895 per capita)
Water productivity: +$32.8 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina, Hofuf, Khamis Mushait, Tabuk, At Taif, Al Khobar

8. Jordan

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 61.6 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 1,790.6 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 91.1% of total
Gross domestic product: $53.4 billion ($4,482 per capita)
Water productivity: +$46.3 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Amman, Irbid, Madaba, Jerash, Al Salt, Aqaba, Al Tafile, Karak, Mota, Anjara

7. Maldives

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 58.1 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: N/A
Fossil fuel energy consumption: N/A
Gross domestic product: $7.0 billion ($12,667 per capita)
Water productivity: +$1,071.8 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Malé, Fuvahmulah, Hithadhoo, Maradhoofeydhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, Male', Un'Goofaaru

6. Yemen

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 56.5 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 54.0 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 93.1% of total
Gross domestic product: $21.6 billion ($533 per capita)
Water productivity: +$9.5 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Sana'A, Ta'Izz, Hodeidah, Al Misrakh, Al Mansurah, An Najd, Milkan, Bani Sari, Al Misyar, Ath Thuja

5. Qatar

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 22.4 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 19,381.1 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 99.9% of total
Gross domestic product: $218.0 billion ($87,480 per capita)
Water productivity: +$656.2 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Doha, Al Wakrah, Ras Laffan, Al Khor, Al Khor, Mesaieed, Dukhan, Al Dhakira, Al-Shahaniya

4. United Arab Emirates

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 15.7 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 14,688.0 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 92.7% of total
Gross domestic product: $537.1 billion ($52,977 per capita)
Water productivity: +$173.9 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Dubai, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sas Al Nakhl, Umm Al Quwain, Kalba, Al Rams, Dibba Al-Hisn, Fujairah

3. Egypt

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 9.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 1,432.9 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 94.7% of total
Gross domestic product: $389.1 billion ($3,513 per capita)
Water productivity: +$5.5 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Cairo, Alexandria, Qus, Faiyum, Mansoura, Nag Hammadi, Sohag, El Mahalla El Kubra, Al-Zaqaziqâ€Ž, Tanta

2. Bahrain

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 2.7 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 22,689.2 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 100.0% of total
Gross domestic product: $47.7 billion ($29,084 per capita)
Water productivity: +$233.6 in GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Largest urban areas: Manama, Askar, Awali

1. Kuwait

Renewable internal freshwater resources: 0.0 cubic meters per capita
Electric power consumption: 16,570.6 kWh per capita
Fossil fuel energy consumption: 99.9% of total
Gross domestic product: $160.2 billion ($37,533 per capita)
Water productivity: N/A
Largest urban areas: Kuwait City, Al Jahra, Jaber Al-Ahmad, Ahmadi, Sulaibiya, Az Zawr, Al Khiran, Ali Subah Al Salem