Global Water Crisis: Asia and Africa have faced a disproportionate share of the human impact from floods, droughts and other water-related extreme events, according to the latest assessment of global water resources.

The World Meteorological Organization’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 report says the two regions together accounted for at least half of recorded water-related extreme events and more than 80% of reported associated deaths during the five years from 2021 to 2025.

Water Extremes Are Becoming More Erratic

The assessment describes a global water cycle increasingly marked by swings between excessive water and severe shortages. The report notes that 2025 was among the driest years for global river discharge in 35 years, while the number of river basins experiencing normal conditions has remained unusually low.

For seven consecutive years, only about 34% to 38% of river basins recorded normal conditions, compared with an average of approximately 46% during 1991–2020.

Asia Faces Multiple Water-Related Threats

Asia experienced a combination of floods, tropical cyclones and intense monsoon conditions during the reporting period. In 2025, South and Southeast Asia were affected by compound weather events, with several countries experiencing major human impacts.

The report says Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines were affected by such events, with up to 3,600 deaths reported across the affected countries.

Africa Also Remains Highly Exposed

Several parts of Africa experienced repeated flooding and drought conditions. The report notes that some countries faced major flooding in consecutive years, while other parts of the continent experienced persistent water shortages.

The Greater Horn of Africa, for example, experienced a return of severe drought conditions after an exceptionally dry October–December period.

Data Gaps Remain a Concern

The WMO assessment also highlights a major challenge in understanding the full scale of water-related disasters: hydrological observation coverage remains limited in some of the regions most affected by extreme events.

Although global water data availability has improved, Asia and Africa remain among the areas with comparatively limited hydrological observations. Better monitoring can help governments understand changing water conditions and strengthen early-warning systems.

Global Water Security Under Pressure

The latest findings extend beyond individual floods or droughts. The WMO reports that Earth’s terrestrial water storage has shown a declining trend since around 2014–2016, while every major glaciated region recorded net ice loss for the fourth consecutive year in 2025.

These changes can affect water supplies, agriculture, infrastructure, energy production and communities dependent on predictable water availability.

The latest assessment highlights the importance of international cooperation, improved observation networks and timely sharing of water-related information as countries prepare for increasingly variable hydrological conditions.