Regarding the state of water resources, the report indicates that only about a third of the world’s river basins had “normal” conditions in 2024, and the rest were above or below normal: the sixth consecutive year of clear imbalance.

According to UN Water, an estimated 3.6 billion people lack adequate access to water at least one month a year, and this number is expected to rise to more than 5 billion by 2050.

The WMO’s 2024 State of the World’s Water Resources Report highlights the cascading effects of excess or scarcity of water on global economies and society.

According to its data, 2024 was the third consecutive year with widespread glacier loss across all regions.

The Amazon Basin and other parts of South America, as well as southern Africa, were affected by severe drought in 2024, while wetter-than-normal conditions were reported in Central, West, and East Africa, parts of Asia, and Central Europe.

In this regard, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that global water resources are under increasing pressure, and at the same time, more extreme water hazards are having a growing impact on lives and livelihoods.

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