A new global scale water indicator, the freshwater provisioning index for humans (FPIh), maps the
capacity of upstream source areas to provide water for human populations downstream. The freshwater
provisioning index for humans combined with estimates of threats to water source areas assesses the
compounded impacts on freshwater provisions at their point-of-service and the humans they support
downstream. Nearly the entire world is serviced by freshwater sources compromised to a moderate
extentthrough human activities, with 82% of the world’s population served by upstream areas exposed to
high levels of threat. Globally, 75% of the world’s population benefits from engineered remediation of
highly impaired source areas. Despite these gains, more than 80% of the global population still
experiences moderate levels of threat impacting their freshwater provisions. Industrialized nations
greatly limit their exposure to threats via infrastructure investments whereas regions in the developing
world with moderate threat and little means of mitigation are viewed as the most vulnerable.
Populations served by water source areas in industrialized countries receive highest threat reductions
overall (50–70%) while those served by provision areas in the least developed countries receive