Many countries and territories are already in a state of crisis. The report ranks over 180 countries and territories in terms of the amount of renewable water resources available per capita, meaning all of the water circulating on the surface, in the soil or deeper underground.
The poorest in terms of water availability is Kuwait (where 10 m³ is available per person each year), followed by Gaza Strip (52 m³), United Arab Emirates (58 m³), Bahamas (66 m³), Qatar (94 m³), Maldives (103 m³), Libya (113 m³), Saudi Arabia (118 m³), Malta (129 m³) and Singapore (149 m³).
The top 10 water-rich countries (with the exception of Greenland and Alaska)are: French Guiana (812,121 m³ available per person per year), Iceland (609,319 m³), Guyana (316,689 m³), Suriname (292,566 m³), Congo (275,679 m³), Papua New Guinea (166,563 m³), Gabon (133,333 m³), Solomon Islands (100,000 m³), Canada (94,353 m³), and New Zealand (86,554 m³).
By the middle of this century, at worst, 7 billion people in 60 countries will be faced with water scarcity, and, at best, 2 billion in 48 countries, depending on factors like population growth and policy-making. Climate change will account for an estimated 20 per cent of this increase in global water scarcity, according to the report. Humid areas will probably see more rain, while it is expected to decrease and become more erratic in many drought-prone regions and even in some tropical and sub-tropical regions. Water quality will worsen with rising pollution levels and water temperatures.
The poorest in terms of water availability is Kuwait (where 10 m³ is available per person each year), followed by Gaza Strip (52 m³), United Arab Emirates (58 m³), Bahamas (66 m³), Qatar (94 m³), Maldives (103 m³), Libya (113 m³), Saudi Arabia (118 m³), Malta (129 m³) and Singapore (149 m³).
The top 10 water-rich countries (with the exception of Greenland and Alaska)are: French Guiana (812,121 m³ available per person per year), Iceland (609,319 m³), Guyana (316,689 m³), Suriname (292,566 m³), Congo (275,679 m³), Papua New Guinea (166,563 m³), Gabon (133,333 m³), Solomon Islands (100,000 m³), Canada (94,353 m³), and New Zealand (86,554 m³).
By the middle of this century, at worst, 7 billion people in 60 countries will be faced with water scarcity, and, at best, 2 billion in 48 countries, depending on factors like population growth and policy-making. Climate change will account for an estimated 20 per cent of this increase in global water scarcity, according to the report. Humid areas will probably see more rain, while it is expected to decrease and become more erratic in many drought-prone regions and even in some tropical and sub-tropical regions. Water quality will worsen with rising pollution levels and water temperatures.