The figures in columns (1) and (3) of Table 2 show regional water resources available. The proportions of utilizable fresh water in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which consist mainly of developing countries, are 10%, 27% and 29% of the world's total respectively. If we compare this distribution with the distribution of the world population by region (Column (4) of Table 2), considerable gaps are found between the supply of and the potential demand (i.e., population) for water. The water supply in Asia is remarkably small compared to the population, and Europe (excepting Russia) and Africa also display this tendency more or less. On the other hand, the water supply in Oceania, South America, North America, and Russia is strikingly great (even relative to their respective population).
(2) Falkenmark's Measurement of "Water Shortage"
Falkenmark defines countries in the condition of "no water shortage" as those having 1,700m3 (= ton) or more of utilizable amount of annually replaceable fresh water per capita; countries in the "water stress" condition, as those with 1,000 tons and above but less than 1,700 tons; and countries in the "water shortage" condition as those having under 1,000 ton(8).
Based on these definitions, the world or the major regions as a whole was in "no water shortage" condition in 1995 (Column (5) of Table 2). Reviewing the figures by country, however, there were eleven "water stressed" countries (270 million people), and 18 "water shortage" countries (166 million people), which make 4.7% and 2.9% of the world population respectively(9). The majority of them are located in desert zones of the Middle East and Africa.
Although, despite the population growth, a water shortage of "the world" or "the major regions" is not expected at least until 2050, a near "water stress" condition is anticipated regionally in Africa and Asia as a whole in the latter half of the 21st century.
