This infographic/brochure is a GRIPP initiative and was supported by IGRAC.
Groundwater represents close to 99% of all unfrozen fresh water in the world. Groundwater makes up one third of all water being used, provides almost half of the world's population with domestic water, and is the source of almost half of the water used for irrigation worldwide.
For example, in Denmark, 100% of all water used (domestic, agricultural, and industrial) is derived from groundwater. This extensive global dependence on groundwater is quite recent in human history, with withdrawals tripling over the last 50 years. Groundwater underpins many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and is critical for a host of the ecosystem services and natural habitats on which humans depend.