Prologue: State of groundwater resources

As a prelude to the World Water Development Report 2022, this Prologue presents aggregated statistics, figures and other information on selected overall characteristics and the state of the world’s water resources, as well as on observed trends. The numerical information aggregated at global, continental or regional scales is based on countless uncoordinated observations on variables that are difficult to assess, while documentation on their processing is usually lacking. Therefore, this information is unavoidably subject to significant uncertainty, even to the extent that different versions of the same variable are circulating. Despite these uncertainties, it is believed that the presented information will facilitate the understanding of the macroscopic setting and context of the groundwater themes discussed across the different chapters of the report, provided that the mentioned flaws are properly taken into account.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Clean Water and Sanitation

Good Health and Well-Being

Responsible Consumption and Production