Are we running out of sand?
Sand is the most mined material on Earth, with more extracted by volume than even oil or gas.
Humans consume roughly 50 billion tons of sand and gravel every year. This is enough to build a wall 24 meters high and 24 meters wide around the entire equator. Because smooth desert sand is useless for construction, we rely on coarse river sand for concrete, glass, and electronics. This massive demand has led to a global shortage and the disappearance of entire islands.
Nerd Mode
Sand is the primary ingredient in concrete, which makes up the foundation of our modern world. According to a 2022 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), global sand consumption has tripled over the last two decades. We now use an estimated 50 billion metric tons annually, which averages out to about 17 kilograms per person every day.Not all sand is equal. Desert sand is shaped by wind, making the grains too smooth and rounded to bind together for industrial use. Construction requires angular 'marine' or 'river' sand, which is typically extracted from riverbeds, lakes, and oceans. This specific demand has led to the rise of 'sand mafias' in countries like India and Vietnam, where illegal mining operations have stripped riverbanks bare.The environmental impact of this extraction is devastating. Removing sand from riverbeds disrupts ecosystems, destroys fish habitats, and lowers water tables. In Indonesia, at least 24 small islands have vanished since 2005 due to excessive sand mining. As urbanization continues to accelerate in Asia and Africa, researchers warn that sand is being used faster than nature can replenish it through geological erosion.
Verified Fact
FP-0002289 · Feb 16, 2026