The World Bank has warned that the world is facing a mounting sanitation crisis that risks undermining public health, slowing economic growth, and intensifying climate challenges.
In a new report, “The Global Sanitation Crisis: Pathways for Urgent Action”, released on Tuesday, the Bank revealed that nearly two out of five people globally still lack access to safe sanitation.
It cautioned that this shortfall fuels the spread of preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid, which claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, particularly among young children.
The report identified Africa as one of the hardest-hit regions, estimating that the continent loses as much as $200 billion annually in potential economic gains due to inadequate sanitation.
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It added that Africa’s GDP could expand by up to five per cent if governments prioritised investments in water supply and sanitation infrastructure.
According to the World Bank, the problem is deepened by rapid urbanisation, poverty, and fragile infrastructure across many low- and middle-income countries.
Informal settlements in major cities are frequently left without sewage systems, forcing residents to adopt unsafe alternatives that contaminate water supplies.
Climate change, the report warned, is compounding the crisis. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and rising sea levels are straining already weak systems, exposing vulnerable communities to greater health risks while causing further economic losses.
The Bank stressed that improved sanitation delivers wide-ranging benefits. It noted that every $1 invested in water and sanitation in Africa generates up to $7 in returns, while also reducing methane emissions, creating jobs, and strengthening resilience in cities.
Examples from India and Brazil, it said, show how sanitation improvements in schools can boost attendance and learning outcomes, especially for adolescent girls.
World Bank recommends policies
Calling for urgent collaboration, the World Bank urged governments, local authorities, and communities to scale up climate-resilient, inclusive sanitation systems that protect human health and the environment.
It also recommended stronger policies, investment in infrastructure, and support for innovative technologies that can transform waste into useful resources.
“Achieving climate-resilient urban sanitation is possible—action must start now. Together, governments, service providers, businesses, and communities can build sanitation systems that protect people, prosperity, and our planet.” the report concluded.
