River flows were among driest in decades in 2025, says World Meteorological Organization
Below-normal flows were recorded in more than a third of the world’s river basins as terrestrial water reserves continued to decline.
In 2025, the World Meteorological Organization reported that rivers experienced one of their driest years in decades, according to their State of Global Water Resources report. This decline in water availability was observed across terrestrial storage, including groundwater, lakes, vegetation, ice and snow. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that this trend poses serious future implications, as these water stocks typically serve as a buffer during exceptionally dry years.
Over a third of the world's river basins recorded below-normal flows, marking one of the driest years for rivers globally in the past 35 years of data collection. However, some regions, such as parts of South Asia, experienced excessive water due to more unpredictable water cycles. The report also highlighted widespread glacier losses across all regions for the fourth consecutive year, which is expected to contribute to long-term water insecurity.
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