A quarter of the world’s population are living in countries that are in danger of running out of water, experts have warned.

Global water withdrawals have more than doubled since the 1960s, causing reservoirs around the world to run dry, according to a report from the World Resources Institute (WRI) published this week.

Some 17 countries including India, Israel, Bahrain, Pakistan and Botswana are on average using up more than 80 per cent of their available water supply each year and are facing “extremely high” levels of water stress.

A further 44 countries, home to a third of the world’s population, face “high” levels of stress, meaning that more than 40 per cent of available supply is withdrawn every year on average.

The WRI, a global research firm, warns that water stress poses a severe threat to human life and livelihoods – and the issue will only get worse unless rapid action is taken.

“Water stress is the biggest crisis no one is talking about. Its consequences are in plain sight in the form of food insecurity, conflict and migration, and financial instability,” said Dr Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the WRI.