A recent report by the US-based World Population Review highlights significant disparities across Arab countries in access to “safely managed” drinking water. While several Gulf states lead the region, Lebanon posts alarming figures that reflect the country’s deepening infrastructure crisis.
At the top of the regional ranking, Kuwait has achieved 100% access to safe drinking water, followed by Bahrain at 98.9%. Surprisingly, war-torn Syria records a relatively high access rate of 91.49%.
Lebanon, by contrast, ranks among the lowest in the Arab world, with only 47.7% of the population having access to safely managed drinking water. This statistic is particularly concerning given the ongoing deterioration of public services in the country.
While Lebanon maintains relatively broad access to water sources, the country struggles with the proper treatment and distribution of water—posing serious risks to public health and water security.
Iraq (59.74%) and Sudan (10.26%) also rank low in the region. Meanwhile, the report notes a lack of precise data for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, the UAE and Yemen regarding the quality of water management, though access to water sources in these countries remains relatively high.
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