Gender inequality in global water security

Abstract Ensuring universal and equitable access to water and sanitation for all by 2030 (United Nations Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development Goal or SDG 6) is one of the most important goals for the world. 785 million people do not still have access to basic drinking water services. This burden disproportionately affects women, who are often responsible for collecting water from distant sources in regions with limited or no water supply systems. Understanding the spatial patterns of socio-demographic and hydrological factors is key to address the interlinked challenges of gender equality and water security under SDG 5 (‘Achieve gender equality’) and SDG 6. While the challenges women face in securing water are widely recognized, quantitative analysis of gender inequality in global water security has not previously been studied. Here, we present, to our knowledge the first global assessment of gender inequality in water security. We measured water security by examining both water access and water scarcity (hereafter, water stress), incorporating population data for working-age individuals and children. We integrated this hydrological and demographic information at a spatial resolution of approximately 10 km from 2000 to 2014 when the information is available. Our results showed that more working-age women than men experience poor water access, particularly in Africa. In addition, women in countries with high water insecurity, defined as high water stress and poor water access—such as Burkina Faso, Togo, and Somalia—primary conduct water collection. Our results indicate significant gender-based differences in water security, with women frequently remaining in rural areas characterized by poor water access. These inequalities could be further intensified by climate change and socio-economic factors.