Uneven Concern Over Food and Water Security

Concerns about food and water security vary widely across countries, reflecting differences in climate, infrastructure and resource management. Data from Statista Consumer Insights shows that worries about access to reliable water and food supplies are particularly pronounced in emerging economies, while remaining comparatively lower in many high-income countries.

In countries such as South Africa (46 percent) and Mexico (33 percent), high levels of concern reflect ongoing challenges related to water scarcity and infrastructure. South Africa has faced repeated droughts and supply disruptions in recent years, while Mexico continues to grapple with water stress in major urban areas like Mexico City. Similarly, sizable shares of respondents in China (31 percent) and both India and the United States (28 percent each) express concern, underscoring the pressure that rapid urbanization, industrial demand and climate change place on water resources, even in some high-income economies.

By contrast, concern is lower in countries such as Germany (13 percent) and South Korea (9 percent), where more developed infrastructure, relatively stable supply systems and generally temperate climates help mitigate immediate risks. However, even in these countries, as well as in others like the United Kingdom (19 percent) and Japan (25 percent), emerging challenges such as droughts and regional shortages highlight that water security is becoming a broader global issue.