One out of four people living on this planet struggles to have permanent access to clean water. The latest data shows that approximately 2.2 billion people live in countries with scarce water resources. Niger, Jordan, Burkina Faso, Yemen, Chad, and Namibia are among the most sensitive nations, with eight out of every ten children facing water scarcity.
And the situation is not expected to improve. In this article, you will discover the key statistics about water scarcity and future predictions for access to water for Earth’s population.
Listen to our podcast covering this topic: DevelopmentAid Dialogues I How UNICEF’s WASH Initiative Saves Lives Combating a Global Water and Sanitation Crisis
Water scarcity statistics
Around four billion people fall victim to severe water scarcity for at least one month in a year and it is predicted that 1.8 billion people are likely to experience “absolute water scarcity” over the next few years.
For the most part, those affected are smallholder farmers who currently find it difficult to meet their basic needs for sanitation, clean water, and food.
In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, women and children suffer from water scarcity as they frequently have to walk long distances to access it.
Did you know that growing crops consumes more than 7% of the world’s fresh water resources? Here are some facts about water:
- Safe drinking water is unavailable to two billion people, and properly managed sanitation is inaccessible to 3.6 billion.
- Approximately 3.2 billion people inhabit agricultural regions where there are high water deficits.
- 739 million children live in places with severe or extremely severe water scarcity, and climate change threatens to exacerbate this situation.
- Agriculture consumes around 70% of the world’s freshwater resources.
Key factors behind global water scarcity
A shortage of freshwater resources to satisfy the needs of the local population and environment is known as water scarcity. Some of the key factors causing water scarcity include:
1️⃣ Natural disasters
Droughts and floods are examples of natural disasters that may damage or pollute clean water sources, leading to water scarcity.
For instance, in 2022 Yemen was hit by a severe drought followed by heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding. This damaged water and sewage systems, and raised the risk of waterborne illnesses. There was insufficient safe drinking water, and people therefore had to drink tainted water from the same sources from which their animals were drinking.
2️⃣ Industrial operations
Numerous industrial development operations harm water security. These include:
- Overusing groundwater
- Diverting surface water
- Building dams
- Mining and extraction activities
- Developing urban areas without proper sanitation
Around 80% of industrial and municipal wastewater returns to the ecosystem untreated. In addition, over 42% of household wastewater worldwide is improperly managed, endangering both human health and the environment.
3️⃣ Conflicts
Conflicts impact infrastructure which, in turn, causes water crises. This has occurred in numerous countries across the globe, including Syria and the Central African Republic.
4️⃣ Increased water consumption
Outdated irrigation practices and the lack of sustainable field management lead to increased water use to sustain yields. Severe water stress is expected to hit roughly 40% of all irrigated farmland by 2040 if no action is taken. By 2050, agriculture is expected to see a 19% rise in water demand compared to current levels.
5️⃣ Poor infrastructure
To allow clean water to reach populations, governments should develop appropriate networks and infrastructure. Countries with rapid population growth that have historically depended on infrastructure that has not been renewed for many years may experience water scarcity.
Countries facing worst water stress
Experts believe that countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) face the most critical physical water stress in the world.
The MENA region has considerably less rainfall compared to other parts of the world and its rapid expansion leading to subsequent residential, agricultural, and industrial water usage has resulted in a significant increase in water demand.
For instance, Iraq, which has a serious shortage of water, faces difficulties due to limited resources, extreme heat, and growing desertification. Climate change mainly affects people who live in informal settlements.
Source: www.wri.org
An insufficient supply of water can not only have a physical impact but can also lead to economic disruptions and even affect the energy sector. Thus, it can be the cause of:
- Electricity outages
- Industrial disruptions
- Declines in agricultural productivity
For example, from 2017 to 2021, a shortage of water for cooling thermal power plants in India led to 8.2 TWh of power being lost, which is equivalent to five years’ worth of energy for 1.5 million households.
Future water projections
By 2050, global water demand is predicted to increase by between 20% and 25%, driven by population growth, urbanization, and economic development.
- It is anticipated that a further 1 billion people will face extremely high levels of water stress by 2050. This means that in just over two decades, everyone in the MENA region could experience significant water stress.
- Over the same period, it is expected that sub-Saharan Africa’s requirement for water will skyrocket by 163%. In contrast, Latin America and the Caribbean, will face an increase of 43%.
- Furthermore, up to 700 million people could be displaced due to water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid regions.
Final word
Water scarcity is a growing global concern. Forecasts suggest that the situation will worsen in the following decades, mainly due to unsustainable farming methods, industrial waste, poor infrastructure, and natural disasters. Water scarcity jeopardizes public health, food security, and financial stability. Coordinated actions are required to improve water management, create infrastructure, and safeguard vulnerable people against future water crises.
