UN warns world’s water at risk 

Overconsumption of water is leading the world towards shortages. The United Nations warns that unsustainable water use threatens the goal of “access to water and sanitation for all by 2030”


World population: 8.02 billion

Drinking water: One in four people worldwide does not have enough safe drinking water 
2 billion

Water use: Agriculture is largest water-using sector

Agriculture 72%
Households, services 16%
Industry 12%


Sanitation: One in three people has no hand-washing facilities at home, including three-quarters of people in poorest countries
2.3 billion

Health: Every day, over 2,300 people – including 700 children under age of five – die from diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and poor hygiene

Water-use efficiency: Improved by 11.5% between 2015 and 2019 – from $17.4 to $19.4 per cubic metre

Climate change: Extreme weather events are making water more scarce and polluted. Almost three-quarters of global disasters in past 20 years have been water-related – causing $700 billion in damage


Sources: United Nations 2023 Water Conference, OECD, Reuters 
© GRAPHIC NEWS