2023 Marks the Driest Year for Global Rivers in Over Three Decades, Says WMO

The findings signal a critical shift in water availability amidst rising demand, impacting communities, agriculture, and ecosystems worldwide.

The year 2023 has been recorded as the driest year for global rivers in over three decades, according to a new report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The findings signal a critical shift in water availability amidst rising demand, impacting communities, agriculture, and ecosystems worldwide.

According to the State of Global Water Resources report, the past five years have seen widespread below-normal river flows, with reduced water inflows into reservoirs, further straining global water supplies. The report also highlights that glaciers suffered their largest mass loss in the last 50 years, with 2023 being the second consecutive year of ice loss in all glacier regions worldwide.

In 2023, the combination of record-breaking heat and persistent droughts exacerbated the situation, leading to prolonged dry conditions. At the same time, there were a significant number of floods globally, driven by both natural climate events, such as the transition from La Niña to El Niño, and human-induced climate change.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo described water as the "canary in the coalmine" of climate change, noting that the increasing severity of rainfall, floods, and droughts is heavily impacting lives, economies, and ecosystems. Saulo warned that while the hydrological cycle has become more erratic and unpredictable, society is not taking urgent action to address the escalating water crisis.

The report emphasizes that rising temperatures have accelerated the hydrological cycle, contributing to more extreme rainfall and rapid evaporation that worsens droughts. A warmer atmosphere also holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall, while soil drying continues to intensify drought conditions.

One of the report’s central themes is the lack of sufficient data on the world’s freshwater resources. Saulo stressed the need for improved monitoring, data-sharing, and cross-border collaboration to better manage global water resources. She emphasized, "We cannot manage what we do not measure."

The State of Global Water Resources report, now in its third year, is the most comprehensive to date, offering new insights on lake and reservoir volumes, soil moisture, and detailed analysis of glaciers and snow water equivalents. It aligns with global efforts like the Early Warnings for All initiative, aiming to provide reliable water-related hazard monitoring and early warning systems by 2027.

As the global population continues to grow, the report highlights a stark reality: 3.6 billion people currently experience inadequate access to water for at least one month each year, and this figure is expected to rise to 5 billion by 2050. The world remains far off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation, underscoring the urgency of global action to address the looming water crisis.