No Rivers
Q: How many countries don't have a permanent natural river?
A: Twenty
Countries Without a Permanent Natural River
When we think of countries, we often imagine vast landscapes with rivers flowing through them. However, not every country has a permanent natural river. In fact, a handful of nations around the world lack a continuous waterway due to their geography, climate, or size.
As of today, there are 20 countries that do not have a natural, permanent river. These nations are primarily found in arid regions like the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in small island nations where rivers have not formed due to limited land area.
Notable Countries Without Rivers:
- Saudi Arabia – Despite its vast size, this desert nation relies on underground aquifers and desalinated seawater for its water supply.
- Bahrain – An island country in the Persian Gulf that depends on underground water reserves and desalination.
- Malta – This small Mediterranean island has no natural rivers but experiences seasonal runoff.
- United Arab Emirates – While the UAE has wadis (dry riverbeds), it lacks a continuous, flowing river.
- Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar – These Gulf countries also have no permanent rivers, relying instead on groundwater and desalination.
- The Maldives, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu – Small island nations with no land area for river systems.
How Do These Countries Manage Water?
Without rivers, these nations depend on alternative water sources such as:
- Desalination plants that convert seawater into freshwater.
- Aquifers and groundwater wells to extract underground water.
- Rainwater harvesting and reservoirs to store seasonal rainfall.
This unique geographical challenge makes water management a crucial issue for these countries. With growing populations and climate change pressures, sustainable water solutions are more important than ever.