Facts About the World Water Crisis

 

10 Facts About the World Water Crisis

1. 784 million people around the world are without basic water access. That’s more than twice the population of the United States.
2. More people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war.
3. Two billion people, or about 1 in 4, lack access to a toilet or latrine.
4. Diarrheal diseases, caused primarily by unsafe water and poor sanitation, kill more children under 5 years old than malaria, AIDS, and measles combined.
5. Diarrheal disease kills one child every 60 seconds.
6. About a quarter (22%) of health facilities in Least Developed Countries have no safe water.
7. In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls spend an estimated 40 billions hours a year collecting water.
8. An estimated 400 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases, with 272 million lost to diarrhea alone.
9. Lost time gathering water significantly reduces productive farming time for women in parts of the developing world. With safe water nearby, it’s estimated that women could feed 150 million of the world’s hungry.
10. For every $1 invested in safe water and sanitation, a yield of $5 to $28 USD is returned in increased economic activity and reduced health care costs. Access to safe water stimulates the economy for the long-term.