The provided charts illustrate the global distribution of water and compare how three specific countries—Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Canada—allocate their water resources. Overall, it is clear that fresh water is a scarce global resource, and its usage is heavily influenced by a nation's economic priorities.
Regarding the distribution of water, 97% of the world's water is salt water, leaving only 3% as fresh water. Within this fresh water category, the overwhelming majority, at 79%, is trapped in ice and glaciers. Ground water accounts for 20%, while surface water makes up a mere 1%.
In terms of water consumption, Egypt and Saudi Arabia exhibit similar patterns, with agriculture being the primary user at 80% and 76% respectively. Domestic use in these two countries is identical at 14%, while industrial usage remains relatively low at 7% and 10%. Conversely, Canada shows a starkly different profile. Industrial water consumption dominates the Canadian sector at 80%, while agriculture accounts for only 9% of usage. Domestic consumption in Canada is 11%, which is slightly lower than that of the other two nations. These figures highlight a clear divide between agricultural-reliant economies and those driven by industry.