Is Most of Earth's Water in Lakes and Rivers?

No. The distribution is stark:

• Oceans: ~97.5% of all water (saline)
• Ice caps/glaciers: ~1.7% (fresh)
• Groundwater: ~1.7% (fresh/saline)
• Lakes: ~0.013% (fresh ~0.007%, saline ~0.006%)
• Rivers: ~0.0002% (fresh)
• Atmosphere/soil moisture/biota: trace

Lakes + rivers = ~0.013% of total water — a tiny fraction. Yet they provide most accessible freshwater for human use. Protecting them is disproportionately important.