According to UN forecasts, the world’s population will grow to 9.6 billion in 2050. Today, half of humanity lives in cities, rising to two-thirds by 2050. The largest increase is in developing countries, where water scarcity is already a reality.
Due to the growing need for food, energy and sanitation, the global demand for water will increase by roughly 55% by 2050. The sharpest increases will be recorded in industry (400%), power generation (140%) and households (130%). However, consumption in agriculture, which currently requires the largest share of the water, is falling slightly.
Approximately a quarter of the world’s water needs are currently met by groundwater. However, the steady decline in the groundwater supply means that in 2050 over 40% of the world’s population will live in areas where water is scarce.