Mapped: Where Safe Drinking Water Is Still Out of Reach
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Key Takeaways:
- More than 2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
- Access exceeds 99% across much of Europe, North America, and Australia, but remains below 20% in several low-income countries.
- The UN defines safe drinking water as water that is available on premises, free from contamination, and accessible when needed.
Access to safe drinking water has improved dramatically over the past few decades, yet more than 2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water services at home.
The gap between countries remains enormous, with access approaching universal levels in many wealthy economies while millions elsewhere continue to rely on unsafe or unreliable sources.
This map by Julie R. Peasley uses data from UN Water and Our World in Data to show the share of each country’s population with access to safely managed drinking water services, highlighting where clean water infrastructure is well established and where major challenges remain.
Which Countries Have the Safest Drinking Water?
The table below shows access to safely managed drinking water services around the world.
| Country | Share of the population using safe drinking water |
Category |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 31 | Safely managed service |
| Albania | 71 | Safely managed service |
| Algeria | 69 | Safely managed service |
| Andorra | 91 | Safely managed service |
| Angola | 68 | Basic service only |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 99 | Basic service only |
| Argentina | 100 | Urban only basic service |
| Armenia | 82 | Safely managed service |
| Australia | 100 | Urban only safely managed service |
| Austria | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Azerbaijan | 58 | Safely managed service |
| Bahrain | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Bangladesh | 59 | Safely managed service |
| Barbados | 99 | Basic service only |
| Belarus | 93 | Safely managed service |
| Belgium | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Belize | 95 | Basic service only |
| Benin | 18 | Safely managed service |
| Bhutan | 66 | Safely managed service |
| Bolivia | 93 | Basic service only |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 86 | Safely managed service |
| Botswana | 63 | Safely managed service |
| Brazil | 89 | Safely managed service |
| Brunei | 100 | Basic service only |
| Bulgaria | 96 | Safely managed service |
| Burkina Faso | 50 | Basic service only |
| Burundi | 66 | Basic service only |
| Cambodia | 30 | Safely managed service |
| Cameroon | 71 | Basic service only |
| Canada | 97 | Safely managed service |
| Central African Republic | 6 | Safely managed service |
| Chad | 6 | Safely managed service |
| Chile | 98 | Safely managed service |
| China | 96 | Urban only safely managed service |
| Colombia | 74 | Safely managed service |
| Congo | 46 | Safely managed service |
| Costa Rica | 81 | Safely managed service |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 36 | Safely managed service |
| Croatia | 87 | Safely managed service |
| Cuba | 95 | Basic service only |
| Cyprus | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Czechia | 98 | Safely managed service |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 12 | Safely managed service |
| Denmark | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Djibouti | 80 | Basic service only |
| Dominican Republic | 45 | Safely managed service |
| Ecuador | 70 | Safely managed service |
| Egypt | 79 | Safely managed service |
| El Salvador | 76 | Urban only safely managed service |
| Estonia | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Eswatini | 38 | Safely managed service |
| Ethiopia | 14 | Safely managed service |
| Fiji | 42 | Safely managed service |
| Finland | 100 | Safely managed service |
| France | 100 | Safely managed service |
| French Guiana | 92 | Safely managed service |
| Gabon | 89 | Basic service only |
| Gambia | 48 | Safely managed service |
| Georgia | 71 | Safely managed service |
| Germany | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Ghana | 43 | Safely managed service |
| Greece | 97 | Safely managed service |
| Greenland | 100 | Basic service only |
| Guatemala | 49 | Safely managed service |
| Guinea | 74 | Basic service only |
| Guinea-Bissau | 24 | Safely managed service |
| Guyana | 67 | Safely managed service |
| Haiti | 73 | Basic service only |
| Honduras | 66 | Safely managed service |
| Hungary | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Iceland | 100 | Safely managed service |
| India | 76 | Safely managed service |
| Indonesia | 30 | Safely managed service |
| Iran | 94 | Safely managed service |
| Iraq | 60 | Safely managed service |
| Ireland | 96 | Safely managed service |
| Israel | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Italy | 97 | Safely managed service |
| Jamaica | 88 | Basic service only |
| Japan | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Jordan | 89 | Safely managed service |
| Kazakhstan | 92 | Safely managed service |
| Kenya | 66 | Basic service only |
| Kiribati | 15 | Safely managed service |
| Kuwait | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Kyrgyzstan | 74 | Safely managed service |
| Laos | 35 | Safely managed service |
| Latvia | 97 | Safely managed service |
| Lebanon | 48 | Safely managed service |
| Lesotho | 31 | Safely managed service |
| Liberia | 79 | Basic service only |
| Libya | 96 | Basic service only |
| Liechtenstein | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Lithuania | 97 | Safely managed service |
| Luxembourg | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Madagascar | 22 | Safely managed service |
| Malawi | 18 | Safely managed service |
| Malaysia | 95 | Safely managed service |
| Maldives | 100 | Basic service only |
| Mali | 86 | Basic service only |
| Malta | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Marshall Islands | 87 | Basic service only |
| Mauritania | 77 | Basic service only |
| Mauritius | 100 | Basic service only |
| Mexico | 43 | Safely managed service |
| Moldova | 76 | Safely managed service |
| Monaco | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Mongolia | 43 | Safely managed service |
| Montenegro | 86 | Safely managed service |
| Morocco | 80 | Safely managed service |
| Mozambique | 28 | Safely managed service |
| Myanmar | 60 | Safely managed service |
| Namibia | 87 | Basic service only |
| Nauru | 19 | Safely managed service |
| Nepal | 16 | Safely managed service |
| Netherlands | 100 | Safely managed service |
| New Caledonia | 97 | Safely managed service |
| New Zealand | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Nicaragua | 56 | Safely managed service |
| Niger | 53 | Basic service only |
| Nigeria | 30 | Safely managed service |
| North Korea | 67 | Safely managed service |
| North Macedonia | 81 | Safely managed service |
| Norway | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Oman | 91 | Safely managed service |
| Pakistan | 45 | Safely managed service |
| Palau | 91 | Safely managed service |
| Palestine | 81 | Safely managed service |
| Panama | 95 | Basic service only |
| Papua New Guinea | 53 | Basic service only |
| Paraguay | 64 | Safely managed service |
| Peru | 49 | Safely managed service |
| Philippines | 48 | Safely managed service |
| Poland | 89 | Safely managed service |
| Portugal | 95 | Safely managed service |
| Puerto Rico | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Qatar | 95 | Safely managed service |
| Romania | 82 | Safely managed service |
| Russia | 76 | Safely managed service |
| Rwanda | 53 | Urban only safely managed service |
| Saint Lucia | 98 | Basic service only |
| Samoa | 63 | Safely managed service |
| San Marino | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 37 | Safely managed service |
| Saudi Arabia | 99 | Basic service only |
| Senegal | 27 | Safely managed service |
| Serbia | 75 | Safely managed service |
| Seychelles | 65 | Safely managed service |
| Sierra Leone | 11 | Safely managed service |
| Singapore | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Slovakia | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Slovenia | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Solomon Islands | 72 | Basic service only |
| Somalia | 75 | Basic service only |
| South Africa | 68 | Safely managed service |
| South Korea | 99 | Safely managed service |
| South Sudan | 40 | Basic service only |
| Spain | 99 | Safely managed service |
| Sri Lanka | 47 | Safely managed service |
| Suriname | 56 | Safely managed service |
| Sweden | 100 | Safely managed service |
| Switzerland | 97 | Safely managed service |
| Syria | 94 | Basic service only |
| Tajikistan | 65 | Safely managed service |
| Tanzania | 31 | Safely managed service |
| Thailand | 100 | Basic service only |
| Togo | 21 | Safely managed service |
| Tonga | 30 | Safely managed service |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 69 | Safely managed service |
| Tunisia | 65 | Safely managed service |
| Türkiye | 96 | Basic service only |
| Turkmenistan | 95 | Safely managed service |
| Tuvalu | 9 | Safely managed service |
| Uganda | 18 | Safely managed service |
| Ukraine | 88 | Safely managed service |
| United Arab Emirates | 99 | Safely managed service |
| United Kingdom | 100 | Safely managed service |
| United States | 98 | Safely managed service |
| Uruguay | 91 | Safely managed service |
| Uzbekistan | 82 | Safely managed service |
| Vanuatu | 19 | Safely managed service |
| Venezuela | 93 | Basic service only |
| Vietnam | 59 | Safely managed service |
| Yemen | 75 | Basic service only |
| Zambia | 50 | Urban only safely managed service |
| Zimbabwe | 25 | Safely managed service |
The global divide is striking. Countries including Australia, Belgium, Finland, and the U.K. report access rates close to or at 100%, while countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic, and Benin remain below 20%. These differences reflect decades of investment in water infrastructure, treatment systems, and public utilities.
Countries with the highest levels of access generally benefit from extensive water treatment systems and reliable utilities. Meanwhile, lower-income countries often face challenges related to funding, rapid population growth, and climate pressures.
What Counts as Safe Drinking Water?
The United Nations tracks progress through a metric known as “safely managed drinking water services.” This goes beyond simply having a water source nearby.
To qualify, drinking water must come from an improved source, be located on premises, be available when needed, and be free from contamination. These standards are part of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure clean water and sanitation for all.
Safe drinking water is closely tied to public health, education, and economic productivity. Reliable water systems reduce exposure to waterborne diseases, improve school attendance, and support broader economic development.
Why Do Some Countries Lag Behind?
In many regions, communities may rely on water sources that are vulnerable to contamination from sewage, industrial waste, or agricultural runoff. Rural populations can face additional challenges when extending water networks becomes prohibitively expensive.
Climate change is also increasing pressure on water systems, while growing populations are placing additional demand on already-stressed supplies. Differences in consumption patterns can also influence water management challenges, particularly in countries with high levels of water use per person.
Despite these obstacles, global progress has been significant. However, recent estimates from WHO and UNICEF indicate that roughly one-quarter of the world’s population still lacks access to safe drinking water services at home, underscoring the scale of the challenge that remains.
The Road to Universal Access
Expanding safe drinking water access requires long-term investments in water treatment, distribution networks, sanitation, and maintenance. International organizations, governments, and development agencies continue to support projects aimed at improving water security and reducing waterborne disease.
While access rates have improved dramatically over the past several decades, achieving universal safe drinking water remains one of the world’s most important development goals.
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