(March 31, 2026) While the future is difficult to predict, one thing is clear: pressure on the world’s freshwater supply is growing. As the global population continues to rise and demand increases across agriculture, energy, and everyday use, water resources are becoming more strained.

Many regions already facing water shortages are expected to see conditions worsen, creating challenges for millions of people.

Here are key projections and data points that highlight where the world’s water supply may be headed.

Global Water Supply and Demand Projections

  1. Over 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water worldwide, highlighting the scale of the current global water crisis.1
  2. Approximately half of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity at least part of the year.2
  3. Droughts are predicted to increase markedly over the next 20 years, with currently about 60–75% of people globally experiencing some form of water stress every year.3
  4. By 2030, the world could face a 40% gap between global water demand and available supply if current trends continue.4
  5. Global water demand is projected to increase by 20–30% by 2050, driven by population growth and economic development.5
  6. Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, making it the largest consumer of water worldwide.3
  7. Feeding a global population nearing 10 billion by 2050 will require a ~50% increase in food production, placing additional strain on water resources.6
  8. Droughts affected over 1.4 billion people between 2002 and 2021, and climate change is expected to increase their frequency and severity.8
  9. Water demand has been increasing at approximately 1% per year since the 1980s, driven by population growth and consumption patterns.10
  10. By 2050, billions of people are expected to live in highly water-stressed river basins, particularly in regions already vulnerable to scarcity.11

Accurate water measurement is one of the most practical steps operators can take to reduce waste and stretch supply. Seametrics builds the meters that make that possible. Learn how we can help.

References

1. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025/Goal-06/
2. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2024/03/un-world-water-development-report/
3. https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:10028/n20241202_Economics-Drought-Web.pdf
4. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/16/global-water-crisis-food-production-at-risk
5. https://www.unesco.org/reports/wwdr/en/2024
6. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/farming-and-agribusiness
7. https://www.fao.org/aquastat/en/
8. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/
9. https://www.unwater.org/publications/un-world-water-development-report-2024
10. https://www.unesco.org/reports/wwdr/en/2024
11. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts