25 countries now face ‘extreme water stress’ every year - three of them are in Europe

A quarter of the world’s population is facing extreme water stress, according to new research.

The countries at the highest risk regularly use 80 per cent of their renewable water supply for irrigating crops, livestock, industry and household needs every year.

Even a short-term drought can put them in danger of running out of water or the government turning off the taps to conserve what is left.

“Living with this level of water stress jeopardises people’s lives, jobs, food and energy security,” the report from the World Resources Institute (WRI) reads.

Its authors add that water is essential to fostering an equitable society, growing food, producing electricity, maintaining health and meeting the world’s climate goals.

Population growth, economic development and climate change are all set to make the situation worse without proper management of our supplies.

The WRI says that 25 countries are currently exposed to extremely high water stress every year. Together they are home to a quarter of the world’s population.

Top of the list is Bahrain with Cyprus second in the WRI’s ranking. Two other European countries are also on the list: Belgium ranked eighteenth and Greece nineteenth.

The world’s worst affected regions are the Middle East and North Africa where 83 per cent of people are exposed to extremely high water stress. That figure is expected to rise to 100 per cent by 2050.

Globally, the demand for water is expected to increase by between 20 and 25 per cent by 2050. It has already more than doubled since 1960.

While demand for water has plateaued in Europe and the US due to investment in efficiency, international trade means that the problem goes beyond borders.

Though most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa don’t currently face