The demand for water has never been greater, said the UN World Water Development Report III on Monday evening during the 5th World Water Forum held in the largest Turkish city of Istanbul.

The demand for water is increasing mainly due to rapid population growth. The world's population, currently estimated at 6.6 billion, is growing by about 80 million people each year, which means demand for freshwater is increasing by 64 billion cubic meters a year, said the report issued by UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the first day of the forum.

About 90 percent of the population growth of 3 billion expected by 2050 will be in developing countries, many in regions which are already suffering water scarce.

The report warned that we are facing a severe water shortage. "With increasing shortages, good governance is more than ever essential for water management. Combating poverty also depends on our ability to invest in this resource," said Koichiro Matsuura, director-general of UNESCO.

The 5th World Water Forum, the largest water-related event in the world, convenes from March 16 to 22 in Turkey with the theme of "Bridging Divides for Water," attracting a record of 28,000 people all over the world, aimed to facilitate solutions to the world's water problems and promote cooperation among states and organizations.