The Water Crisis
Undeniable statistics from WHO, UNICEF, UN Water, and World Bank. Every number represents lives.
The Access Crisis
People affected globally (WHO/UNICEF JMP 2023)
Without safely managed sanitation
4.2 billion
Without basic handwashing
2.3 billion
Without safe drinking water
2.0 billion
Practicing open defecation
419 million
The Death Toll
Annual deaths from water-related causes
~2 million
Total water-related deaths
1.5 million
Diarrheal disease
480,000
Children under 5
230,000
Cholera + Typhoid
The Key Statistic
More people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war.
The Time Burden
200M
Hours/day spent collecting water
80%
Collectors are women and girls
6 km
Average distance walked
443M
School days lost by girls/year
The Cost to Fix
Global military spending (annual)
$2,240 billion
Cost to solve water crisis (one-time)
$114 billion
The Math
5% of one year's military spending would solve the water crisis permanently.
2 million people die each year because we choose otherwise. This is a choice.
What $114 Billion Means
Global military (1 year)
5% of it
US military alone (1 year)
13% of it
Bottled water market (1 year)
33% of it
The Bottled Water Paradox
The world spends 3× more on bottled water in ONE YEAR than it would cost
to provide universal access PERMANENTLY.
Return on Investment
Economic return per dollar invested
$1 invested
$4-12
Water Supply
$1 invested
$5-28
Sanitation
$1 invested
$3-5
Hygiene
Water Drives Other Crises
- Agriculture: 70% of freshwater goes to irrigation; 40% of food from 20% of land
- Health: Diarrhea is 2nd leading cause of child death; 150 million children stunted
- Conflict: Syria drought preceded civil war; Lake Chad shrank 90% before Boko Haram