What percentage of Earth's water is fresh water?

Step 1: Define the Problem

Identify the percentage of Earth's water that is classified as fresh water.

Step 2: Break Down the Problem

1. Understand the total amount of water on Earth.
2. Determine the portion of that water which is fresh.

Step 3: Apply Relevant Concepts

• Earth's water is primarily divided into saltwater and freshwater.
• Freshwater includes water in glaciers, ice caps, groundwater, and surface water.

Step 4: Analysis, Verify and Summarize

• Approximately 97.5% of Earth's water is saltwater found in oceans.
• The remaining 2.5% is freshwater.
• Of this 2.5% freshwater, about 68.7% is trapped in glaciers and ice caps, 30.1% is groundwater, and only about 1.2% is surface water.

Final Answer

Approximately 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh water.