13th ICOLD European Club Symposium
Bydgoszcz, Poland
21 to 25th September 2026
Hydro 2026 - Adapting to change - Embracing opportunities
Bologna, Italy
14 - 16 October 2026
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2026 ANCOLD Conference
Nipaluna Hobart, Lutruwita Tasmania
26 - 28 October 2026
The world's best databasis on dams, established upon the national inventories sent by the member countries of ICOLD. The Register is continuously updated. It includes more than 55,000 Dams.
The Technical Dictionary on Dams provides translation of more than 3000 technical terms in the field of Dams (with Sketches, for certain terms), in the following languages: English 
, French 
, German 
, Spanish 
, Italian 
, Portuguese 
, Swedish 
, Slovene 
, Finnish 
.
Find the Dictionary by clicking here
General Synthesis
The present edition of the Register, updated [update_month], takes into account [nb_dams] dams.
Definition of a “Large Dam”
A dam with a height of 15 metres or greater from lowest foundation to crest or a dam between 5 metres and 15 metres impounding more than 3 million cubic metres (See ICOLD Constitution, Page 3)
The World Register is widely recognized as the best data basis on dams worldwide. But despite all the efforts of ICOLD, some data are lacking. In using the data basis for calculations, one should stay aware that those calculations are made on the basis of the available data. Therefore, and for a specific field, the dams for which the data are lacking are ignored.
Purposes of dams
Runoff waters are a natural resource for nations. For developing countries, storing water is often vital and in any case, the only means to develop economically this natural resource.
Waters reservoirs mainly give them guarantee of water supply for irrigation, domestic and industrial use during droughts and reduce negative impacts of floods.
[histo_purpose]
Legend
Number and Purposes of registered dams
Statistics are established for [nb_dams] dams registered in the register, the "Role" field being significant for [nb_dams_with_purpose] dams.
Demand for water is steadily increasing and would reach 2-3 per cent per year over the coming decades. With their present aggregate storage of about [total_capacite] km3, dams clearly make a significant contribution to the efficient management of finite water resources that are unevenly distributed and subject to large seasonal fluctuations. Many more dams need to be built to ensure proper use of this resource, in accordance with ICOLD policy set out in the "Position Paper Dams and Environment".
Referenced dams can be broken in two main categories :
- single-purpose dams ([nb_unique_but]) or [pc_unique_but] % dams.
- multipurpose dams ([nb_multi_but]) or [pc_multi_but] % dams.
a) single - purpose dams:
The distribution for each purpose leads to the following results:
[camembert_pc_unique]
b) multipurposes dams:
The distribution for purposes leads to the following results:
[camembert_pc_multiple]
Dam types
Earth dams predominate for some [pc_dams_terre] % of all reported dams. This is of course the oldest type and there are traces or earth dams in the remains of the most ancient civilisations. Furthermore this type of dam can accommodate a wide range of different foundations. The world's second highest dam is Nurek dam in Tajikistan (300 m high).