Brazil, Russia lead global freshwater reserves as water stress rises worldwide

Brazil holds the largest share of the world’s renewable freshwater resources, followed by Russia, highlighting a stark imbalance in global water distribution at a time when water scarcity is becoming an increasing concern for policymakers.

According to World Bank data on total renewable freshwater resources, Brazil accounts for roughly 5,661 billion cubic metres annually, making it the most water-rich country globally. Russia follows with about 4,312 billion cubic metres, while Canada, the United States and China also rank among the top holders of freshwater reserves.

The concentration of freshwater in a handful of countries underscores a growing global challenge: water is abundant in some regions but scarce in others, often where demand is highest.

After Brazil and Russia, Canada holds approximately 2,850 billion cubic metres of renewable freshwater resources, slightly ahead of the United States at around 2,818 billion cubic metres and China at about 2,813 billion cubic metres, according to World Bank figures.

Further down the list are Colombia (2,145 billion cubic metres), Indonesia (2,019 billion cubic metres) and Peru (1,641 billion cubic metres), reflecting the role of tropical climates and large river systems in sustaining water availability.

India, despite having significant total freshwater resources estimated at around 1,446 billion cubic metres, faces acute water stress due to its large population and rising demand. Myanmar, with roughly 1,003 billion cubic metres, also ranks among the top countries in absolute terms.

Countries with large reserves can, however, still face regional shortages due to uneven distribution or limited storage and treatment capacity. In Brazil, for example, most freshwater is concentrated in the Amazon basin, far from major urban centres such as São Paulo.

Similarly, despite Russia’s vast reserves, much of its freshwater is located in sparsely populated Siberia, limiting its accessibility for industrial and urban use.

The World Bank has warned that global water demand could exceed supply by 40% by 2030 if current trends continue, driven by population growth, urbanisation and agricultural expansion.

Climate change is further intensifying the challenge, altering rainfall patterns and increasing the frequency of droughts in already water-stressed regions such as South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa.

China and India, both among the largest holders of freshwater in absolute terms, are also among the most water-stressed countries when measured per capita, reflecting the pressure of large populations and rapid industrialisation.

Governments are increasingly focusing on water management as a strategic issue. Investments in infrastructure, including dams, reservoirs and desalination plants, are rising, alongside efforts to improve water efficiency in agriculture, which accounts for about 70% of global freshwater use, according to the World Bank.