The Tigris and Euphrates: water and dams in the countries that dispute it

The countries in the dispute over the Tigris and Euphrates are Türkiye, Iran, Syria and Iraq. Across Syria, 72% of renewable water comes from other countries (FAO AQUASTAT, 2023); Global Dam Watch lists 39 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 Tigris and Euphrates dispute involves Türkiye, Iran, Syria and Iraq. Under a 1987 protocol, Türkiye undertook to release an average flow of 500 cubic metres per second (1987) of the Euphrates at its border with Syria. Türkiye began filling the reservoir of the Atatürk Dam on the Euphrates in January 1990. The 1990 agreement between Syria and Iraq allocates Iraq 58% (1990) of the Euphrates water entering Syria from Türkiye. Türkiye began filling the Ilısu Dam reservoir on the Tigris in July 2019, and Türkiye and Iraq signed the Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Water Policy on 22 April 2024.

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)

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Disputed rivers

Tigris and Euphrates

Dams in Global Dam Watch39Ataturk, 48.7 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 Tigris and Euphrates 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
Türkiye	3.4	3.7	2%	27
Iran	4.7	4.7	7%	6
Syria	4.0	4.2	72%	1
Iraq	4.1	4.7	61%	5

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 39 dams in Global Dam Watch on the Tigris and Euphrates and its main tributaries in these countries, largest reservoir first.

Ataturk	Euphrates	Türkiye	48.7 km³	1992
Keban	Euphrates	Türkiye	30.7 km³	1974
Mosul	Tigris	Iraq	12.5 km³	1983
Tabqa	Euphrates	Syria	11.6 km³	1978
Haditha	Euphrates	Iraq	11 km³	1983
Ilisu	Tigris	Türkiye	10.4 km³	2018
Karakaya	Euphrates	Türkiye	9.6 km³	1987
Karkheh	Karkheh	Iran	7.3 km³	2001
Silvan	Kulp	Türkiye	7 km³	2016
Dokan	Lesser Zab	Iraq	6.8 km³	1959
Gotvand	Karun	Iran	4.1 km³	2013
Karoon	Karun	Iran	3.1 km³	1976
Derbendikhan	Diyala	Iraq	3 km³	1961
Alpaslan I	Murat	Türkiye	3 km³	2009
Karoon 3	Karoon	Iran	2.8 km³	2004
Karun-4	Karun	Iran	2.2 km³	2011
Kralkizi	Dicle	Türkiye	1.9 km³	1997
Batman	Dicle	Türkiye	1.3 km³	1999
Birecik	Firat	Türkiye	1.2 km³	2000
Ozluce	Peri	Türkiye	1.1 km³	1997
Upper Kalekoy	Murat	Türkiye	783 million m³	2018
Hemren	Diyala	Iraq	630 million m³	1983
Dicle	Dicle	Türkiye	595 million m³	1997
Kigi	Peri	Türkiye	508 million m³	2003
Alkmuru	Botan	Türkiye	436 million m³	2011
Pembelik	Peri Suyu	Türkiye	358 million m³	2015
Uzuncayir	Munzur	Türkiye	308 million m³	2009
Tatar	Peri Suyu	Türkiye	299 million m³	2013
Cat	Abdulharap	Türkiye	240 million m³	1996
Masjed Solayman	Karoon	Iran	230 million m³	2001
Cetintepe	Ortasu	Türkiye	212 million m³	2015
Devegecidi	Furtaksa	Türkiye	202 million m³	1972
Tahtakopru	Karasu	Türkiye	200 million m³	1975
Tercan	Tuzla	Türkiye	178 million m³	1989
Palandoken	Tuzla	Türkiye	157 million m³	2005
Sarimehmet	Karasu	Türkiye	133 million m³	1991
Karkamis	Firat	Türkiye	133 million m³	1999
Hancagiz	Nizip	Türkiye	100 million m³	1989
Gayt	Gayt	Türkiye	41 million m³	1991

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

The Tigris and Euphrates: water and dams in the countries that dispute it

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