摘要：The distribution of renewable freshwater resources between countries is highly unequal and
80% of humanity lives in regions where water security is threatened. The transfer of
agricultural and industrial products to areas where water is limited through global trade
may have potential for redressing water imbalances. These transfers represent 'virtual
water' used in commodity production. We evaluated the current water-use inequality
between countries and the potential of virtual water transfers to equalize water use among
nations using multiple statistical measures of inequality. Overall, the actual use of
renewable water resources is relatively equal even though the physical distribution of
renewable water resources is highly unequal. Most inequality (76%) in water use is due to
agricultural production and can be attributed to climate and arable land availability, not
social development status. Virtual water use is highly unequal and is almost completely
explained by social development status. Virtual water transfer is unlikely to increase
water-use equality primarily because agricultural water use dominates national
water needs and cannot be completely compensated by virtual water transfers.
