About the Atlas

The Water Scarcity Atlas provides an introduction to water scarcity, and showcases analyses that cover the whole world, based on cutting edge research.

• Learn about water scarcity
• Explore how water scarcity has developed
• Test how water scarcity might change in future, exploring opportunities for change

The Atlas aims to share the insights of scientific findings of water scarcity to a broader public and private sector audience. Contributions are welcome. Email info@waterscarcityatlas.org to discuss additions or changes to the site.

Initial development of this website was funded by the Academy of Finland (Grant #305471) in the project “Global Water Scarcity Atlas: understanding resource pressure, causes, consequences, and opportunities (WASCO)”, 01.10.2016 – 30.09.2018. Interactive visualisations were developed with Lucify, and WordPress design and development with Mediapool.

The site is developed and maintained by the Water & Development Research Group at Aalto University, in collaboration with the Water Program at IIASA.

Other resources

Other websites we recommend that provide information related to global water resources and water issues:

• The Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP), for model estimates used in this atlas
• Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas: Measuring, mapping and understanding water risks around the globe, maintained by the World Resources Institute
• The Water Risk Filter: Water maps and country data sets, maintained by the WWF
• World Water Atlas: Platform for sharing narratives about too much, too little, or too dirty water
• The IUCN Water Knowledge platform
• UNESCO IHP’s “Global Network on Water and Development Information for Arid Lands”
• The State of the World’s Rivers
• Water and Climate Change: WATCH project webpage on the water Cycle, including global maps of rainfall, freshwater, evaporation and soil moisture
• Water Footprint Network

Possibly unmaintained:

• GWSP Digital Water Atlas, by the Global Water System Project

Water Scarcity Atlas is subject to the EU’s accessibility directive, the aim of which is to ensure equality in a digitalised society and set uniform requirements for accessibility. Kindly find our statement here.