The Global Water Resources Status Report highlights severe water resource scarcity worldwide, with river flows and reservoir inflows remaining below normal levels for five consecutive years. This disruption has affected communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. Additionally, glaciers have lost the most mass in 50 years, with 2023 being the second year of widespread global ice loss. The report also indicates that 2023 was the hottest year on record, characterized by prolonged droughts and major floods caused by the transition from La Niña to El Niño phenomena and human-induced climate change.
This report provides a global assessment of water resources using data from meteorological and hydrological services to help decision-makers in water-related sectors and disaster risk management make informed decisions. The report is part of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) “State of the Global Climate” series and represents the third year with the most comprehensive data coverage, including new information on lakes, reservoirs, soil moisture, and glaciers. The report aims to establish a global database on hydrological variables to support early warning systems for water-related disasters by 2027.
Currently, approximately 3.6 billion people face water scarcity, with this number expected to exceed 5 billion by 2050. This report therefore emphasizes the urgency of taking action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 related to water and sanitation.
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