UN World Water Development Report 2024

Water for Prosperity and Peace

Safe drinking water and sanitation are human rights. Without access to these services, a life of dignity, stability and good health is virtually impossible.

Water, when managed sustainably and equitably, can be a source of peace and prosperity. It is also the literal lifeblood of agriculture, the major socio-economic driver for billions of people.

It can promote community stability and peacebuilding – especially in fragile situations – and contribute to migration management and disaster risk reduction.

But, when water is scarce, polluted or difficult to access, food security can be undermined, livelihoods lost, and conflict can follow.

In an unstable world where security threats are growing, we must all recognize that ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all – the aim of Sustainable Development Goal 6 – is essential for global prosperity and peace.

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024: Water for Prosperity and Peace highlights the wider significance of water for our lives and livelihoods. It explores water’s capacity to unite people and serve as a tool for peace, sustainable development, climate action and regional integration.

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024: water for prosperity and peace

English | French | Italian 

Executive summary

Arabic | Chinese | English | French | German | Hindi | Italian | Korean | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish

Facts, figures and action examples

English | French | Italian | Portuguese | Spanish