The number is striking, and it puts fresh attention on how something as ordinary as clothing can quietly strain global water supplies at a time when droughts and climate pressures are rising worldwide.

The figure aligns with research from the Water Footprint Network , which estimates that cotton is among the most water-intensive crops on the planet. Their global calculations show that cotton farming can demand anywhere between 7,000 and 29,000 litres of water per kilogram, depending on the region.

Why cotton uses so much water

Cotton grows mainly in hot, dry regions, where water is most scarce, which forces farmers to rely heavily on irrigation. Over time, this has drained rivers, damaged soils, and contributed to ecological disasters.

WaterAid, a charity focused on global water access, notes that water-intensive farming practices often compete directly with people’s basic needs. In communities where clean water is already limited, growing cotton can worsen shortages for households.

This issue is not limited to one region. The Guardian has reported widely on how cotton farming contributed to the near-collapse of the Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest inland lake. Massive cotton irrigation projects in Central Asia diverted the rivers that fed the sea, causing it to shrink dramatically and leaving behind health crises, dust storms, and economic collapse.

Today, similar pressures are appearing in India, Pakistan, China, and parts of Africa — all major cotton producers. These regions face rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall linked to global climate change, making cotton even thirstier and more difficult to sustain.

This conversation comes as major fashion brands face growing pressure to reduce their environmental impact . Several companies are rethinking their supply chains after new 2024–2025 regulations in Europe and the U.S. began demanding clearer reporting on water usage and climate risk.

Meanwhile, the ongoing droughts affecting North Africa , the American Southwest, and southern Europe have sparked new questions about which crops should be prioritised in a warming world. Cotton, with its high water footprint, is increasingly part of that debate.

That’s how much it takes to grow the cotton, process it, and make just one T-shirt. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the amount of water a person drinks in about two and a half years.

From the moment cotton is planted, it requires regular irrigation, especially in regions with hot, dry climates. After harvesting, water is also used for cleaning, dyeing, and finishing fabrics.

The World Bank reports that fresh water is under growing stress worldwide, with demand expected to exceed supply by 40% as early as 2030.

The Bank’s overview emphasises that water “sustains people, powers economies and jobs, grows food, and supports ecosystems,” yet this vital resource is pushed to its limits.

In countries where cotton is widely grown, such as India, Pakistan, and parts of Africa, this water demand often conflicts with local communities' needs. Over-extraction can deplete rivers and aquifers, worsening droughts and threatening livelihoods.

As fast fashion increases global demand for cheap clothing, water use continues to climb. This makes the industry one of the world's biggest consumers of water worldwide, and one of the key areas where sustainable change could have a real impact.