5 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources

In this article, we take a look at the 5 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources. If you want to see our detailed discussion of global freshwater resources and analysis of industries related to it, go to 20 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources.

5. China

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m³ as of 2020: 2.8 trillion

Stretching 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) from East to West and 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) from North to South, China is one of the largest countries with a population of over 1.4 billion people. While the country is home to almost 20% of the world’s population, it has only 6% of the world’s renewable internal freshwater.

However, regardless of the water scarcity issues that result from this difference in the distribution of population and resources, China is still one of the top five countries with the most freshwater resources, with up to 2.8 trillion cubic meters of renewable inland freshwater. 

4. United States

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m³ as of 2020: 2.8 trillion

The United States’s freshwater resources are 77% surface water and 23% underground, and the majority of freshwater bodies in the US are lakes. 90% of the country’s freshwater comes from The Great Lake system, which includes the St. Lawrence Seaway. 

As of 2020, the country had 2.8 trillion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater. 

3. Canada

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m³ as of 2020: 2.9 trillion

Ranked third on the list, Canada has over 20% of the world’s surface freshwater and 7% of the world’s renewable water flow. Canada also has the most lakes in the world — precisely 879,800 lakes. The country’s largest freshwater lake is the Great Bear Lake. 

Canada has 2.9 trillion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater.

2. Russia

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m³ as of 2020: 4.3 trillion

Harboring 1/5th of the world’s freshwater, Russia is the second largest freshwater reserve in the world today. In cubic meters, the country holds 4.3 trillion of renewable internal freshwater and 29,929.24 m3 per capita.

1. Brazil

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m³ as of 2020: 5.7 trillion

Topping the list, Brazil has the highest freshwater resources in the world, with 5.7 trillion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater. It holds 12% of the world’s freshwater resources, with the Amazon River Basin covering 48% of the country’s territory. 

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