The vast majority of Earth’s water is found in the oceans, which hold about 97.5% of the planet’s total supply. This saltwater is not suitable for drinking or irrigation, making it important to understand where freshwater is located.
Freshwater, which makes up only about 2.5% of the total water on Earth, is primarily found in glaciers and ice caps. Approximately 68.7% of the world’s freshwater is locked away in these icy formations, primarily in places like Antarctica and Greenland.
The remaining freshwater is found in various sources: about 30.1% is located underground in aquifers, while only about 1.2% is found in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. These surface water sources are crucial for human consumption, agriculture, and industry, even though they represent such a small fraction of the total freshwater. Understanding the distribution of water helps inform conservation efforts and management of our water resources.