People With No Access to a Safe Drinking Water Source
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Global Total
Most Affected Region
Progress Rate
Understanding People With No Access to a Safe Drinking Water Source
This counter tracks the number of people worldwide who lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Currently, approximately 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water at home, representing more than one-quarter of the global population.
Safe drinking water access means having a water source that is accessible on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination. Many people rely on distant, unprotected sources that may be contaminated with human or animal waste, exposing them to waterborne diseases.
The lack of safe water access perpetuates cycles of poverty and disease, forcing people (often women and children) to spend hours daily collecting water from distant sources, reducing time available for education, income generation, and other productive activities.
Global Water Access Challenge
- Despite significant progress over the past two decades, billions of people still lack access to safely managed drinking water services, with rural populations and marginalized communities disproportionately affected.
- Sub-Saharan Africa faces the greatest challenge, with approximately 400 million people lacking basic water access, representing nearly 60% of the region's population in some countries.
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of water access for basic hygiene practices, particularly handwashing, which is essential for preventing disease transmission.
- Climate change is exacerbating water access challenges through increased frequency of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events that disrupt water infrastructure and supplies.
Water Access Terminology
- Safely Managed Water: Drinking water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination
- Basic Water Service: Drinking water from an improved source within 30 minutes round trip collection time
- Limited Water Service: Drinking water from an improved source with collection time exceeding 30 minutes
- Improved Water Source: Source designed to protect against outside contamination (piped water, boreholes, protected wells, etc.)
Regional Water Access Gaps
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 400 million people lack basic access
- Central and Southern Asia: 153 million people lack basic access
- Eastern and South-Eastern Asia: 145 million people lack basic access
- Latin America and Caribbean: 161 million people lack basic access
- Northern Africa and Western Asia: 54 million people lack basic access
Water Access by Setting
- Rural Areas: 1 in 4 people lack basic water access
- Urban Areas: 1 in 10 people lack basic water access
- Least Developed Countries: 70% lack safely managed services
- Conflict-Affected Areas: 3x more likely to lack basic access
- Indigenous Communities: Often lack formal service recognition
SDG 6 Progress Indicators
- Target: Universal safe water access by 2030
- Current Progress: Behind target trajectory
- Required Investment: $114 billion annually
- Current Financing Gap: $70 billion annually
- Progress Rate: Must quadruple to meet 2030 target
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Water access statistics are compiled through the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, which analyzes household surveys, censuses, and administrative records from countries worldwide to track progress on water and sanitation access.
Real-time estimates incorporate demographic trends and infrastructure development progress, with gradual improvement modeled at -0.63 people per second gaining access, reflecting current rates of water system expansion and population growth.