Water Stress by Country 2025

Highlighted Countries (Water Stress Rank 2023)

1. Kuwait

Kuwait ranks as #1 in the world according to the Water Stress Rank 2023. Little water is naturally available in Kuwait, leading to extreme water stress in this country. About 99% of the freshwater pouring into the country comes from desalination plants. With the construction of the plants, freshwater sources can help sustain households and agriculture throughout the country.

2. Cyprus

Cyprus holds the #2 spot on the Water Stress Rank 2023, and it’s not hard to see why. As a small island with hot, dry summers and limited rainfall, fresh water is always in short supply. To keep up with demand—from both locals and tourists—Cyprus relies heavily on desalination plants and recycled water. These systems help keep taps running and crops growing, but the country still faces serious challenges, especially during long dry spells.

3. Oman

Oman comes in at #3—and it’s also no surprise. With scorching temperatures and hardly any rainfall, fresh water is incredibly limited. Most of the country gets its water from desalination, turning seawater into something drinkable. Oman has also made big strides in reusing water and improving irrigation to keep farms and communities running. Still, with growing demand and a dry climate, managing water remains one of the country’s biggest everyday challenges.

4. Qatar

Ranking #4, Qatar is also one of the most water-stressed countries. The need for water is extremely high here, while water availability is scarce. This country is a desert without a single river to help sustain the population. The growing population and economy saw water use almost double between 2006 and 2013. Since 2013, Qatar’s overall water consumption has remained high, driven by continued population growth, industrial activity, and urban development, particularly around Doha. Households require the most water, followed closely by agriculture.

5. Bahrain

Bahrain takes the #5 spot on the Water Stress Rank 2023, and like many countries in the Gulf, it faces serious challenges when it comes to water. With hardly any rainfall and very limited natural freshwater, the country depends almost entirely on desalination to keep up with daily needs. Years of overusing underground water sources have made the situation even tougher. Today, Bahrain is working on expanding its desalination capacity and reusing more water, but keeping up with demand in such a dry climate poses an ongoing difficulty.

6. Lebanon

Another desert country, Lebanon, has extremely high water stress, with households and industries needing more water than the country can supply. Much of the water stress in Lebanon is due to the inability to store water, water pollution, and chronic misuse of water. Both the agricultural industry and people at home are guilty of misusing the scarce water available in this country.

7. United Arab Emirates

The UAE comes in at #7, as living in the desert means fresh water is always in short supply. With almost no natural sources like rivers or lakes, the country depends on turning seawater into drinking water through desalination. As cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi keep growing, so does the demand for water—whether it’s for homes, businesses, or cooling in the extreme heat. The UAE has responded with high-tech desalination plants, water-saving campaigns, and recycling efforts, but keeping up with demand is still a big challenge.

8. Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, water has always been a major concern. With almost no rivers and soaring temperatures, natural freshwater is extremely limited. As do the other countries in the region, Saudi Arabia relies heavily on desalination to supply homes, farms, and fast-growing cities. Over the years, farming has also taken a toll on underground water sources, many of which are now running low. To help ease the pressure, Saudi Arabia is cutting back on water-intensive crops and investing in water recycling and more efficient desalination.

9. Israel

Another water-stressed country is Israel, which has the ninth-worst water stress in the world. Severe climate change and droughts have made this issue compounding since 2013. Just a few years ago, Israel’s official water authority reported the water sources, like rivers and lakes, were at 100-year lows. Desalination plants across the Mediterranean coast have helped provide 70-80% of the country’s drinking water.

10. Egypt

Rounding out the list for 2023, Egypt also has a big water problem. Nearly all of Egypt’s freshwater comes from the Nile River, which has supported life there for thousands of years. But with the population growing fast and more pressure on the river from upstream countries, that supply is getting stretched thin. And with outdated irrigation and pollution, the problem seems to only get worse. Egypt is now stepping up efforts to use water more efficiently, recycle more, and modernize how farms and cities manage this precious resource.