3B+ People Affected by Water Shortages Worldwide

More than 3 billion people around the world are feeling the effects of water shortages, as the amount of available freshwater has dipped by more than 20% over the past two decades, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Of the 3.2 billion people suffering from water shortages, 1.2 billion people—or one-sixth of the world's population—are experiencing severe water shortages or even dry spells.

The report cites a blend of population growth, socio-economic development, and poor management as the key driving factors behind water scarcity. The UN cautioned that billions of people would face hunger and widespread food deficiencies as a result of mismanaging the world's water resources and failing to address climate change.

Qu Dongyu, the director-general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, said, 'We must take very seriously both water scarcity (the imbalance between supply and demand for freshwater resources) and water shortages (reflected in inadequate rainfall patterns) for they are now the reality we all live with … Water shortages and scarcity in agriculture must be addressed immediately and boldly.'