Problems
The Tigris River is one of the world's most ancient and important waterways. It flows through Iraq, forming part of the Mesopotamian civilization, also known as the cradle of civilization. However, in recent years, the Tigris has faced a serious threat: drying up.
Climate change and human activity
Several factors contribute to the decline of the Tigris. One of them is climate change, which has caused droughts, desertification, and rising temperatures in the region. According to the UN, Iraq is among the five countries most exposed to climate change. The World Bank warned that by 2050, a temperature increase of one degree Celsius and a precipitation decrease of 10% would cause a 20% reduction of available freshwater in Iraq. Another factor is human activity, especially upstream in Turkey, where the Tigris has its source. Turkey has built several dams on the river for hydroelectric power and irrigation, reducing water flow into Iraq. According to Iraqi official statistics, the Tigris entering Iraq has dropped to just 35% of its average over the past century. Iraq has repeatedly asked Turkey to release more water, but Turkey has urged Iraq to use the available water more efficiently. The Tigris, the lifeline connecting the storied cities of Mosul, Baghdad and Basra, has been choked by dams, most of them upstream in Turkey, and falling rainfall. The Tigris’s course through Iraq begins in the mountains of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, near the borders of Turkey and Syria, where local people raise sheep and grow potatoes. The drying up of the Tigris has severe consequences for Iraq's people and environment. It affects agriculture, fisheries, wildlife, and human health. It also threatens the river's cultural heritage and historical sites, such as ancient temples and palaces. Moreover, it increases the risk of conflicts and tensions over water resources among different groups and countries. The Tigris River is a vital lifeline for Iraq and its neighbours. It needs urgent action and cooperation to preserve its flow and quality. Otherwise, it may soon become a memory of a lost civilization.
Gallery
4
Timelines
2026
April
“Dams along the Tigris River - including Dukan, Darbandikhan, and Hamrin - are all close to full capacity,” Iraqi Water Resources Minister Aoun Diab told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), adding that “these major dams, along with medium and smaller ones, will provide a solid water reserve, allowing the country to get through the summer season safely.” Diab further noted that “water releases from Turkey into the Tigris River at the Fishkhabour [Peshkhabur] area have exceeded 2,500 cubic meters per second, which is considered a strong flow rate,” adding that storage levels at Mosul Dam in Iraq’s northern Nineveh province - largely fed by these inflows - are also nearing full capacity. Iraq relies heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, both of which originate in Turkey. However, large-scale dam projects in Turkey - most notably the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) - have significantly reduced downstream water flows into Iraq. The improved water levels in Iraq come after several years of severe water shortages. Data from the Iraqi water resources ministry show that over the past three years, dam storage levels fell to historic lows, leading to the drying up of large areas of the southern marshlands and triggering mass migration from rural communities.
2025
The consequences of reduced water flow have been severe for Iraq, particularly in 2025 when rainfall levels were significantly low. The spokesperson for Iraq’s water ministry previously told Rudaw that the year was “the worst year in Iraq’s history in terms of drought conditions not seen since 1933.”
2023
Baghdad and Ankara in 2023 signed a Water Cooperation Agreement under which Turkey is required to “release a minimum of 500 cubic meters of water per second, of which 260 cubic meters should reach Iraq, The World Resources Institute in late 2023 classified Iraq among 25 countries facing “extreme water stress,” meaning it consumes more than 80 percent of its available water resources, leaving it highly vulnerable to prolonged drought conditions.
2022
The water level in Tigris entering Iraq dropped to just 35% of its average over the past century due to climate change and upstream dams in Turkey. Iraq reduced its cultivated areas by half, affecting food security and livelihoods, as drought dried up the watercourse crucial to the region’s agriculture.
2019
Iraq signs a memorandum of understanding with Turkey to cooperate on water management and increase the flow of the Tigris River into Iraq.
2018
Iraq suffers from a severe water crisis, as the Tigris and Euphrates rivers reach their lowest levels in decades. Protests erupt in southern Iraq over water shortages, power cuts, and corruption.
2016
After years of campaigning, the Iraqi Marshes were inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List – a big step towards sustainable preservation of these wetlands.
2014
Iraq’s Water Ministry prepared a confidential report that spelled out a “single truth:" In two years, Iraq’s water supply would no longer meet demand, and the gap would keep widening. The report, seen by the AP, warned that by 2035, the water deficit would cause a 20% reduction in food production.
2007
A major drought hits the region, affecting the water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries.
