Approximately how many people face daily water scarcity?

• A. 508 million
• B. 1 billion
• C. 50 million
• D. 100 million

Answer: (A)

Daily water scarcity means not having reliable access to enough clean water for basic daily needs like drinking, cooking, and hygiene. Global assessments estimate about half a billion people experience this level of daily shortage, with 508 million being a commonly cited figure that aligns with major sources. This sits between smaller and larger estimates, reflecting a widely accepted scale for those who consistently lack sufficient water due to limits in supply, infrastructure, or affordability. The other numbers are less consistent with the commonly reported range: they either understate the scope or exceed what most international datasets indicate.