Water Conflict Chronology (Pacific Institute) 2025 Update

The data in the Water Conflict Chronology, updated through 2025, used here for analysis for the 2026 Journal article. The Water Conflict Chronology is the world’s most comprehensive open-source record of water-related conflicts, spanning more than 4,500 years of human history. From ancient disputes over irrigation canals to cyberattacks on modern water systems, the database documents how water can be a casualty, trigger, or weapon. In an ongoing effort to understand the connections between water resources, water systems, and international security and conflict, the Pacific Institute initiated a project in the late 1980s to track and categorize events related to water and conflict. The database, most recently updated in November 2025, presents the information as a searchable chronology and map.