Study of Freshwater Resource Availability for Socio-Economic Sustainability in the World

Fresh water supply is one of the most pressing global problems nowadays since the availability of sufficient fresh water influences all areas of human activity, especially the vital spheres of power generation, household life, and agriculture. Densely populated countries, especially in the arid zone of the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, are already faced with an excessive demand compared to available resources, which can be a cause of humanitarian and political risks in those regions. The renewable freshwater resources per capita are constantly decreasing; the allocation of these reserves is extremely uneven, and in several countries the annual water intake many times exceeds its renewable resources. This fact may have negative social and political outcomes. Therefore, the research into the issues associated with water supply is topical for contemporary science. This article presents the findings of data analysis of the water consumption dynamics in different countries around the world, which made it possible to obtain a detailed picture of water problems at a global scale. Water withdrawals are expected to continue to increase in the future, placing even greater strain on the economy's available freshwater resources. This fact can lead to negative socio-economic and political consequences. Therefore, strict monitoring and development of directions for preventing the problem of freshwater shortage are necessary at all levels of management. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.