Number of water conflicts worldwide 2023

In 2023, most of the identified water-related conflicts worldwide involved water as a casualty of the conflict, with a total of 62 of such occurrences. That same year, water was the trigger of an additional 56 conflicts, and it was involved as a weapon in seven more conflicts. The number of water-related conflicts worldwide has been increasing in recent years.

Number of conflicts involving water worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by role of water in the conflict

Characteristic	Water as trigger of the conflict	Water as casualty of the conflict	Water as weapon in the conflict
2023	56	62	7
2022	87	148	16
2021	79	48	1
2020	63	10	4
2019	97	34	6
2018	63	74	5
2017	43	47	3
2016	13	53	4
2015	12	47	6
2014	14	35	12
2013	22	16	4
2012	35	24	4
2011	5	13	3
2010	7	8	4
2009	4	8	3
2008	8	12	0
2007	6	13	3
2006	7	24	0
2005	4	14	1
2004	14	12	3
2003	9	11	4
2002	9	15	8
2001	10	5	5
2000	10	9	5

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Release date

March 2024

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2000 to 2023

Supplementary notes

Conflicts that extend over multiple years are counted in each year, whereas conflicts that involve water in more than one role are counted in each category. Therefore, the sum of the three categories does not reflect the total number of conflicts in a given year.
The source does not provide a release date. The date given is the date of website access.

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