Australia is considered water poor, being the driest inhabited continent, facing persistent water scarcity, highly variable rainfall, and low water runoff, despite having good per-person water storage capacity in some areas. Challenges include climate change impacts, high demand from agriculture, quality issues, and uneven distribution, leading to significant water management efforts.
Water scarcity is a persistent issue in Australia given the relatively dry and variable climate. The emergence of climate change has exacerbated this issue.
Private debt is currently around 130% of GDP as contrasted with government (public) debt which is quite low at 34% of GDP. So yes the Australian public has a lot of debt. Having said that Australia is still a very rich country with median wealth per capita roughly $270k USD or $400k AUD.
Below we take a look at the five countries most threatened by severe water shortages that do not have the money to purchase it.
We may have lower rainfall than many other countries, but our communities supplement their water reservoirs with secondary sources like groundwater bores and desalination plants. However, while drinking tap water in Australia will not make you sick, we definitely do not have the best water in the world.
These are the countries with the cleanest drinking water in the world:
Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan, and Orenburg Oblast, Russia. The most polluted water body in the Ural-Caspian basin.
South Sudan is widely considered the poorest country in the world in 2025-2026, consistently ranking first due to extremely low GDP per capita and a high percentage (over 80%) of its population living in extreme poverty, driven by prolonged civil conflict, displacement, and disruption of its agricultural economy. Other nations frequently cited as among the poorest include Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Yemen, also suffering from conflict and instability.
Here's a list of countries often considered to have abundant freshwater resources:
After adjusting for purchasing power the United States GDP per inhabitant totaled 63,400 international US dollar (int. US$) in 2020. According to IMF estimates, Germany was the second highest ranked G20 country (54,100 int. US$) followed by Australia (51,700 int.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
Yes, $600,000 can be enough to retire at 60 in Australia for many, especially if you're a single person aiming for a comfortable lifestyle, but it depends heavily on your spending, assets, and eligibility for the Age Pension. While some sources suggest $600k covers a single's comfortable retirement (around $52k-$53k/year), it's near the lower end, and couples might need closer to $700k for a similar standard, making financial planning crucial for a stress-free retirement.
Australia has a highly developed mixed economy. As of 2025, Australia was the 15th-largest national economy by nominal GDP (gross domestic product), the 22nd-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP, and was the 21st-largest goods exporter and 24th-largest goods importer.
Qatar – The country with the greatest water shortage in the world due to its arid climate and high industrial demand.
Northern Territory has won the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia title for 2025 with its sample from Power Water's Katherine water treatment plant.
But despite the economic uptick of recent years, Tasmania is still the poorest Australian state.
The richest country by GDP (PPP) per capita is often cited as Singapore, followed closely by Luxembourg, depending on the specific report and year, with Singapore leading in 2025 estimates with around $156,000-$157,000 per person, while Luxembourg is a strong contender just below that, highlighting small, finance-heavy economies as wealthiest per person.
Countries With the Highest Water Waste Around the World
Australia's "cleanest" water varies by category, with Tasmania (TasWater) often winning national tap water awards, Melbourne renowned for its pristine catchment-fed water, Queensland's Isaac Region (Glenden) taking recent national taste titles, and natural spots like K'gari (Fraser Island's Eli Creek) offering incredibly clear freshwater streams, while brands like Beloka offer naturally filtered mineral water.
Tap water doesn't technically expire, but the safety window is short. While chlorine or chloramine is added during treatment to kill microbes, this protective effect fades after just a few days. Depending on where and how it's stored, tap water can pick up new risks.
Chile. Did you know that the very cleanest water in the world is located in Puerto Williams, Chile? That was recently discovered by scientists at the universities of Texas and Chile. They have collaborated on research into the cleanliness of water resources in the world.