Among the 25 most populous countries in 2009, South Africa, Egypt and Pakistan are the most water-limited nations. India and China, however, are not far behind with per capita renewable water resources of only 1,592 and 2,103 cubic meters per person per year. Major European countries have up to twice as much renewable water resources per capita, ranging from 2,288 (Germany) to 3,032 (France) cubic meters per person per year. The United States of America, on the other hand, has far greater renewable water resources than China, India or major European countries: 9,753 cubic meters per person per year. By far the largest renewable water resources are reported from the Russian Federation and Brazil - with 31,929 and 42,496 cubic meters per person per year.

Without an increase in available water resources, Ethiopia, due to population growth, would become the most water limited country in 2050 with only 633 cubic meters of renewable water resources per person per year - followed by Egypt, Pakistan, South Africa and Nigeria. Due to the projected population decline, per capita renewable water resources in some European countries would slightly increase - from 2,288 to 2,667 cubic meters per person per year in Germany and from 2,954 to 3,146 cubic meters per person per year in Italy.

Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 by Gerhard K. Heilig. All rights reserved.