top of page

Earth’s Liquid Gold

Only about 1% of all the Water on Earth is Drinkable

Only about 1% of all the water on Earth is drinkable. Let’s break it down:

  • About 97% of Earth's water is in the oceans, which means it's salty and not fit for drinking without desalination.

  • The remaining 3% is freshwater, but most of that is locked away in glaciers and ice caps (about 68% of all freshwater) or deep underground.

  • What we’re left with is a tiny fraction—roughly 1%—that is actually accessible and suitable for drinking, which includes water from rivers, lakes, and some groundwater.

So, out of all the water sloshing around on our blue planet, only a very small amount is fresh, accessible, and ready to quench our thirst. It’s a good reminder of why conserving water and keeping it clean is so important—every drop of that precious 1% counts!

ADVERTISEMENTS

facts.png
FACTS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
Why the Middle Finger Is Such an Old Insult
HISTORY & INNOVATIONS

Why the Middle Finger Is Such an Old Insult

Homes That Outsmarted the Tax Collector
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Homes That Outsmarted the Tax Collector

Why Most Orange Cats Are Boys
SCIENCE & NATURE

Why Most Orange Cats Are Boys

Cleopatra’s Breath Might Be in Your Lungs Right Now
SCIENCE & NATURE

Cleopatra’s Breath Might Be in Your Lungs Right Now

From Awkward Moment to Medical Marvel
HISTORY & INNOVATIONS

From Awkward Moment to Medical Marvel

Did Avocado Toast Really Ruin Millennials’ Housing Dreams?
FOOD & DRINK

Did Avocado Toast Really Ruin Millennials’ Housing Dreams?

ADVERTISEMENT

popular.png
POPULAR NOW
Photograph of the original constitution
HISTORY & INNOVATIONS

Organizations That Support Peace

Image of camel with Google camera in the desert
SCIENCE & NATURE

When Google Used A Camel to Map the Desert

Photograph of a lamb
SCIENCE & NATURE

How Ranchers Know When Sheep Have Mated (Without Guessing)

Painting of the The Charge of The Light Brigade
HISTORY & INNOVATIONS

Before it Was Cozy, It Was Controversial

FOOD & DRINK

Ice Made the Cocktail Possible

Image of futuristic tech cube
SCIENCE & NATURE

The Spark That Launched San Francisco's Tech Scene

ADVERTISEMENT

bottom of page