UN Reports 7% Drop in Global Water Availability over Decade

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that global renewable freshwater availability per capita has fallen by 7% over the past ten years, highlighting a sharp escalation of the worldwide water crisis.

New data from the AQUASTAT database show that almost every region now faces declining water resources. Central Asia stands out among the most affected regions, having lost 12% of its available water. Experts link this trend primarily to the region’s water-use model, where agriculture accounts for more than 80% of total withdrawals.

To measure shortages, FAO specialists use the «water stress» indicator, which compares water abstraction with available supplies. In 2022, global water stress reached 18%, signalling growing pressure on freshwater systems worldwide.

Several regions now experience critically high stress levels. North Africa recorded 121%, South Asia 76.7%, Central Asia 70.2%, and Western Asia 65.1%. These figures point to persistent water deficits that threaten food security, energy production and long-term economic growth.