World Water by the Numbers

Did you know that 1.1 billion people don't have access to safe water? That's a lot of people. About 18% of the world population, actually. Here are some other things you may not know about water:

70% of the world's surface is covered by water, but...

97.5% of that is salt water.

That means only 2.5% of water on the planet is fresh water.

Most of that (about 69%) is frozen.

Up to 30% of the fresh water supply is lost from leakage, and that's in developed countries!

In the 20th century, water use increased by more than twice the rate of the population increase.

By 2025, it is estimated that 2/3 of the world's population will be facing moderate or severe water stress.

Every year, 2.2 million people die from diseases related to unsafe water and poor sanitation.

At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by people with water-borne diseases.

Water-related diseases are the 3rd and 4th most common causes of death for children under 5.

For more statistics on water, click here.

Submitted by Allison Stuewe at: March 24, 2008

What I find most interesting about these statistics is how something so simple and basic that seems to be all around us, can have such a huge impact on so many people.

Submitted by Andy Kozminski at: February 17, 2008

This is obviously pointing out the fact that water will become a very important thing to consider in foreign politics in the future. It could determine wars in the future.

Submitted by Dave Kozminski at: February 16, 2008

I find the information about water stress pretty enlightening. Its interesting to learn what eutrophication actually is, and that water stress decreases its important processes.

Submitted by Dave Kozminski at: February 16, 2008

Those statistics are startling and show the need for world-wide cooperation on granting better access to water.

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