What's happened
A global report shows 2025 was among the driest years for river flows in 35 years, with groundwater and glaciers dwindling. Major river systems are under stress from drought, pollution and overexploitation, prompting calls for action and data-sharing to protect communities and economies.
What's behind the headline?
Key takeaways
- The 2025 dry year follows a pattern of declining water storage since 2014-16, raising alarms about the global water cycle.
- Glaciers have lost hundreds of gigatonnes of ice, contributing to sea-level rise and reduced meltwater for downstream users.
- Regions vary in response: parts of South America show partial recovery while Africa faces persistent stress; droughts and pollution compound challenges elsewhere.
What this means for readers
- Water security will become more volatile, affecting agriculture, energy and domestic supply in multiple regions.
- Data-sharing and monitoring improvements are critical to forecast droughts and mitigate impacts ahead of climate-driven shocks.
Forecast
- Without policy action to cut emissions and invest in water storage and pollution controls, pressure on rivers will intensify and water scarcity will become more frequent across basins.
How we got here
The World Meteorological Organization reports a decade-long decline in terrestrial water storage, with 2025 marking continued ice loss across all major glacier regions. Increasing variability in river flows and groundwater depletion are reshaping water security worldwide.
Our analysis
The Guardian and All Africa report on WMO findings that 2025 was one of the driest years for river flows in 35 years, with groundwater and glaciers continuing to decline. The Guardian highlights global river health, climate-linked droughts, and policy responses, while All Africa emphasizes groundwater depletion and regional variability. Both cite Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, and Wayne Jenkinson, WMO hydrology experts.
Go deeper
- What regions are most at risk in the coming year?
- How should households conserve water as river flows decline?
- What policy steps are being urged by the WMO and researchers?
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