Deaths Caused by Water Related Diseases This Year
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Annual Deaths
Per Second Rate
Most Affected Group
Understanding Deaths Caused by Water Related Diseases This Year
This counter tracks the tragic toll of deaths caused by water-related diseases since the beginning of the year. Approximately 1.4 million people die annually from preventable diseases directly linked to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices.
Water-related diseases include diarrheal diseases, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, poliomyelitis, and various parasitic infections. These diseases disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in developing countries where access to safe water and sanitation remains limited.
Children under five years old bear the heaviest burden, accounting for approximately 60% of all water-related deaths. These deaths are particularly tragic as they are entirely preventable with access to safe water, adequate sanitation facilities, and basic hygiene education.
Water-Related Disease Burden
- Diarrheal diseases represent the leading cause of water-related mortality, responsible for approximately 525,000 deaths annually among children under five years old.
- Water-related diseases create enormous economic burdens on affected communities through healthcare costs, lost productivity, and reduced educational attainment.
- The World Health Organization estimates that every $1 invested in water and sanitation programs yields $4-12 in economic returns through reduced healthcare costs and increased productivity.
- Progress toward eliminating water-related deaths has been significant but uneven, with substantial improvements in some regions while others continue to face major challenges.
Water-Related Disease Terminology
- WASH: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene - integrated approach to preventing water-related diseases
- Waterborne Diseases: Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms transmitted through contaminated water
- Water-washed Diseases: Diseases caused by inadequate quantities of water for hygiene
- Vector-borne Diseases: Diseases transmitted by insects that breed in water environments
Major Water-Related Diseases
- Diarrheal Diseases: 525,000 child deaths annually
- Cholera: 21,000-143,000 deaths annually
- Typhoid: 128,000-161,000 deaths annually
- Hepatitis A: 7,134 deaths annually
- Schistosomiasis: 200,000+ deaths annually
- Malaria (water-related): 627,000 deaths annually
Regional Disease Burden
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 58% of water-related deaths
- South Asia: 23% of water-related deaths
- Southeast Asia: 12% of water-related deaths
- Latin America: 4% of water-related deaths
- Middle East & North Africa: 3% of water-related deaths
Prevention Strategies
- Safe Water Access: Point-of-use water treatment systems
- Improved Sanitation: Safely managed sanitation facilities
- Hygiene Education: Handwashing with soap promotion
- Water Quality Monitoring: Regular testing and treatment
- Community Health Programs: Disease surveillance and response
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Water-related disease mortality statistics are compiled from national health surveillance systems, WHO Global Health Estimates, and demographic health surveys that track disease-specific mortality rates.
Real-time death estimates apply a rate of 0.044 deaths per second based on WHO data indicating approximately 1.4 million annual deaths from diseases preventable through safe water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.