Global Water Outlook to 2025: Averting an Impending Crisis -- Factsheets
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Assessments and Projections from Global Water Outlook to 2025: Averting an Impending Crisis

AGRICULTURE
  • In 1995, it is estimated that the world consumed a total of 1,799 cubic kilometers (km³) of water. Of this, 920 km³, or 51 percent, was used for irrigation in Asia alone. Under the business-as-usual scenario, 45 percent of the 2,081 km³ of total water the world will use in 2025 will be consumed in Asia for irrigation.
  • Under the business-as-usual scenario, in 2025, 1,161 million metric tons of grain will be produced using irrigation and 1,453 million metric tons will be produced through rainfed agriculture. Rainfed agriculture will account for 74 percent of grain production in developed countries, 43 percent in developing countries, and 56 percent worldwide.
  • In 1995, 1,436 km³ of water was used for irrigation. In 2025, under the business-as-usual scenario, 1,492 km³, or 72 percent, of the world's water use will be used in the irrigation sector.
  • The business-as-usual scenario indicates that in 2025 developing countries will use rainfed agriculture to grow more than 678 million metric tons of grain on 318.5 million hectares. Developed countries will grow 775 million metric tons on 195.7 million hectares, producing 53 percent of the global rainfed grain crop on 38 percent of the land dedicated to it.
  • Irrigated cropland area for grains will increase 11 percent worldwide between 1995 and 2025, and yield per hectare will increase by 40 percent, according to the business-as-usual scenario. During the same time period, rainfed cropland area for grains will increase by eight percent, and yield per hectare will increase by 30 percent.
  • In 1995, total grain yield worldwide was 2.6 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha). Under the business-as-usual scenario, this will grow to 3.5 mt/ha by 2025, but under the water crisis scenario, it will only increase to 3.3 mt/ha. However, total worldwide grain yield under the sustainable water use scenario would be 3.6 mt/ha; 38 percent higher than 1995 yields, and three percent greater than business-as-usual projections.
  • In 1995, global grain consumption rates averaged 314.3 kilograms per person per year. Under the business-as-usual scenario, per capita grain consumption in 2025 is projected to be 329.8 kilograms per year, while the water crisis scenario results in an average consumption of 298.6 kilograms per person per year. Consumption rates in developing countries were 55 percent lower than those in developed countries in 1995; they will be 56 percent lower in 2025 under the business-as-usual scenario, and 58 percent lower under the water crisis scenario.

HOUSEHOLD WATER USE
  • In 1995, the world used 169 cubic kilometers (km³) of water for household purposes. By 2025, this will increase by 72 percent, to 289.6 km³ under the business-as-usual scenario.
  • In 1995, in urban areas, people living in households connected to water sources used an average 43.4 cubic meters (m³) per person per year, compared with urban dwellers without connections to water sources, who used 24.8 m³ per person per year. Under the business-as-usual scenario, by 2025, those living in connected households are projected to increase their usage by 11 percent, to 48.1 m³ per person per year, while those in unconnected households will only increase their usage by one percent, to 25.1 m³ per person per year. However, under the sustainable water use scenario, all households would be connected, and each person would use only 33.7 m³ per year.
  • Globally, in 1995 urban households connected to water sources are estimated to use 40 percent more water than their rural counterparts. Under the business-as-usual scenario in 2025, this margin is projected to widen to 64 percent, as urban dwellers increase their usage from 43.4 m³ to 48.1 m³ per person per year, and water use in rural households declines from 31.0 m³ to 29.3 m³ per person per year.
  • Households in developed countries use more water than those in developing countries. In 1995, per capita domestic water demand was estimated at 131 liters per day in developed countries, and 70 liters per day in developing countries. By 2025 under the business-as usual scenario, people living in developing countries will each use 93 liters of water per day, while their counterparts in developed countries will use 149 liters per person per day.

    Other Household Water Facts

    • Eighty-one percent of households worldwide have access to improved water sources (United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2002).
    • In 1990, 60 percent of the world's population lived in rural areas. By 2000, this number declined to 53 percent (World Bank, World Development Indicators 2002).
    • As of the year 2000, 56 percent of households worldwide use adequate sanitation facilities (UNDP, Human Development Report 2002).
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