Abstract: Using ArcGIS mapping and a chart analysis method to analyze data on per capita water resources, cross-border water resources, and water resource utilization from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Bank, the development and utilization status of water resources in countries targeted by the Belt and Road initiative in recent years were investigated. The results show that the area with the highest amount of water resources per capita is Southeast Asia, while the areas with the lowest are West Asia and North Africa, with obvious regional differences. In most countries, the amount of water resources per capita is shrinking, most prominently in West Asia; meanwhile, in Central and Eastern Europe, there is a slight growth trend. The development and utilization of water resources is clearest in Southeast Asia and West Asia. The rate of utilization of water resources is highest in West Asia and lowest in Southeast Asia. Cross-border water exists in most countries, although the proportion of cross-border water in Central and Eastern Europe is higher than that elsewhere. In some countries, the amount of imported water resources is zero. The proportion of water used for agriculture is generally higher in Asia, while the proportion of water used in industrial and urban domestic settings is greater in Central and Eastern Europe.

Key words: the“Belt and Road”initiative, water resources, data statistics, exploitation