Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is one of the most basic human needs for health and well-being. Billions of people will lack access to these essential services in 2030 unless progress quadruples. Demand for water is increasing due to rapid population growth, urbanization and growing water needs for agriculture, industry and energy sectors.

Demand for water has outpaced population growth, with half of the world's population already experiencing severe water scarcity for at least one month a year. Water scarcity is expected to intensify as global temperatures rise as a result of climate change.

Investments in infrastructure and sanitation, protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, and health education are among the steps needed to ensure universal access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030, and improving water use efficiency is one of the keys to reducing water stress.

Positive progress has been made. Between 2015 and 2022, the proportion of the world's population with access to safely managed drinking water increased from 69 percent to 73 percent.