The global groundwater resources are displayed in the figure below. In many parts of the world huge groundwater resources are available, only the large arid zones (Sahara, Central Asia, parts of Australia and southern Africa) have limited groundwater resources. However, groundwater is used to a wide range of different intensity due to high investment and running costs for exploration and withdraws.

The global freshwater use differentiated by sectors clearly show, that freshwater consumption is not strongly correlated to groundwater availability, but is much more depending on surface water.