What Are Some Water Scarcity Facts?

Water scarcity facts consist of definitions and statistics that shed light on this worldwide problem. Water scarcity is defined as the the state where there is a shortage of water resources to fulfill the demands of human and ecosystems at the same time.[1] Here are some facts regarding water scarcity:

• The World Health Organization estimates that there are over 2 billion people who reside in water-stressed countries and at least 2 billion people who drink contaminated water.[2]
• UNICEF reports that 4 billion people (almost two thirds of the world’s population) experience severe water scarcity at least one month per year and more than 2 billion live in countries where the water supply is inadequate.[3]
• Water.org estimates that women and girls spend 266 million hours every day finding water and collecting it.[4] This keeps women out of the workforce and girls out of school.
• Contaminated water can cause numerous medical conditions, including diarrhea. In most parts of the world, diarrhea is completely treatable and preventable, but many people in developing countries are dying from it. In 2017, almost 1.6 million people died from diarrheal diseases. One-third of those deaths were children under 5 years of age.[5]