State of Global Water Resources 2024

The 2024 edition of the State of Global Water Resources report documents an extraordinary year shaped by record heat, climate extremes, and widespread water-related impacts. With global surface temperatures reaching 1.55 °C above pre-industrial levels, 2024 was the hottest year in the 175-year observational record. Strong El Niño conditions at the start of the year amplified drought in South America and southern Africa, while other regions faced devastating floods.

Across the water cycle, extremes were evident: rivers, reservoirs, lakes, groundwater, and glaciers all showed significant departures from normal. While parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia were inundated by flooding, South America and southern Africa endured severe drought. Glaciers continued record ice loss, adding to sea level rise. These events brought widespread human and economic costs, underscoring the urgent need for better monitoring, early warning, and adaptive water management in the face of a warming climate.

Key messages

• State of Global Water Resources report highlights cascading impacts of too much or too little water
• Only one third of river basins had normal conditions in 2024
• All glacier regions worldwide report losses due to melt for third straight year
• Report calls for more monitoring and data sharing