The Brahmaputra: water and dams in the countries that dispute it

The countries in the dispute over the Brahmaputra are China, India and Bangladesh. Across Bangladesh, 91% of renewable water comes from other countries (FAO AQUASTAT, 2023); Global Dam Watch lists 6 large dams on the river and its main tributaries in these countries.

Source: WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)2023Updated 25 Oct 2026

The Brahmaputra is a river at the centre of a dispute involving China, India and Bangladesh. China and India signed a memorandum of understanding in 2002 under which China provides river measurements on the Brahmaputra in the flood season. The Zangmu hydropower station on the Yarlung Tsangpo, the upper Brahmaputra, began full operation in October 2015. China approved a hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo in December 2024. India said in January 2025 that it had conveyed its concerns about the project to China. Construction of the project began on 19 July 2025.

Drafted with AI from cited sources and reviewed by the editor

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Water stress in the countries that dispute the river

Under 10%10–20%20–40%40–80%Over 80%

Not in this dispute

Large dam (size: reservoir capacity)

Borders show who controls an area in practice, as drawn by Natural Earth. Disputed borders are dashed. Borders shown do not imply endorsement. How we treat borders

Disputed rivers

Brahmaputra

Dams in Global Dam Watch6Teesta, 1.8 km³

Countries in the disputeNational water stress (WRI Aqueduct baseline, 1979–2019), 0–5: the basin can differ

Dams are those in Global Dam Watch (version 1.0) on the river and its main tributaries, matched by the river names it records. It lists large dams built by about 2022, so the newest are missing. It does not mark dams that have since been destroyed; this site marks those it knows of beside their former reservoir capacity. Water stress is a national average; the river’s own basin can differ.

Source: WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)baseline 1979–2019; projection 2050Updated 25 Oct 2026

Source: FAO AQUASTAT2023Updated 25 Oct 2026

Source: Global Dam WatchUpdated 25 Oct 2026

Countries in the dispute

Each country’s water stress on WRI Aqueduct’s 1979–2019 baseline and projected for 2050, the share of its renewable water that flows in from other countries (FAO AQUASTAT), and its large dams on the Brahmaputra and main tributaries (Global Dam Watch). Listed roughly upstream first.
Country	Water stress, 1979–2019	Projected water stress, 2050	Renewable water from abroad, 2023	Dams on the river
China	2.8	2.8	1%	3
India	4.1	4.0	31%	2
Bangladesh	2.7	2.8	91%	1

Source: WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)baseline 1979–2019; projection 2050Updated 25 Oct 2026

Source: FAO AQUASTAT2023Updated 25 Oct 2026

Source: Global Dam WatchUpdated 25 Oct 2026

Dams in Global Dam Watch

The 6 dams in Global Dam Watch on the Brahmaputra and its main tributaries in these countries, largest reservoir first.

Teesta	Teesta	Bangladesh	1.8 km³	1998
Pangduo	Lhasa	China	1.2 km³	2014
Zhikong	Lhasa	China	224 million m³	2007
Manla	Niancuhe	China	155 million m³	2000
Gazaldova	Teesta	India	140 million m³	1998
Khandong	Kopili	India	17 million m³	1987

Source: Global Dam Watch (GRanD)Updated 25 Oct 2026

The Brahmaputra: water and dams in the countries that dispute it

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