One thing that does come out strongly from the rankings though is the correlation between water security and GDP.

The report says that water investments can increase economic productivity and growth, while economic growth provides the resources to invest in institutions and water infrastructure.

But high GDP in itself is not necessary as a starting point, as the case of the Republic of Korea showed in the 1960s and 1970s.

The country reached its high degree of water security through a mix of good governance, leadership and a clear vision on what was needed.

Water demand in Asia and the Pacific is coming under increasing stress from population growth, urbanization, and growing prosperity, which tends to herald a shift toward more water-intensive, meat-based diets.

The report concludes that we can’t meet this demand by simply developing new water resources.

We have already accessed almost all of our available freshwater and groundwater resources.