Half the world’s 100 largest cities are in high water stress areas, analysis finds

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rachel SalvidgeJanuary 22, 2026 at 07:00 AM

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medium article 3 min

A new analysis reveals that half of the world's 100 largest cities are facing high water stress, with 39 experiencing extremely high stress due to factors like poor water management and climate change. Watershed Investigations and The Guardian mapped cities onto stressed catchments, identifying Beijing, New York, and Delhi among those facing extreme stress. Separate NASA satellite data analysis from University College London shows drying trends in cities like Chennai and Tehran, while Tokyo and Lagos are getting wetter. Globally, 1.1 billion people live in major cities in drying regions, raising concerns about future water shortages, particularly in Asia. The UN has announced the world has entered a state of water bankruptcy due to the deterioration of some water resources.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United Nations (UN) 50% Bangkok 60% London 60% Jakarta 60% Chennai ×260% Nasa ×260% Beijing 70% Tehran ×270% Los Angeles 70% Rio de Janeiro 70% Delhi 70% New York 70%

Keywords

water stress 100% water scarcity 80% urban water security 70% drying trends 60% climate breakdown 60% wetting trends 60% water management 50% day zero 50% water bankruptcy 40% satellite data 40%