People using improved drinking water sources in Australia
Australia: People using improved drinking water sources was 8,111 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People using improved drinking water sources in Australia, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, people using improved drinking water sources in Australia stood at 8,111 people.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved drinking water sources in Australia peaked at 47,122 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 7,183 people, in 2015.
That places Australia 124th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
People using improved drinking water sources in Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45,996 people | — |
| 2001 | 46,682 people | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 47,122 people | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 43,339 people | -8.0% |
| 2004 | 39,501 people | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 35,637 people | -9.8% |
| 2006 | 31,777 people | -10.8% |
| 2007 | 27,915 people | -12.2% |
| 2008 | 23,994 people | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 19,934 people | -16.9% |
| 2010 | 16,032 people | -19.6% |
| 2011 | 14,381 people | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 12,686 people | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 10,928 people | -13.9% |
| 2014 | 9,088 people | -16.8% |
| 2015 | 7,183 people | -21.0% |
| 2016 | 7,307 people | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 7,436 people | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 7,563 people | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 7,682 people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 7,771 people | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 7,846 people | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 7,932 people | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 8,019 people | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 8,111 people | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36,190 people | 19,934 people | 47,122 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,029 people | 7,183 people | 16,032 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,936 people | 7,771 people | 8,111 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 12.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, per capita 0.0193 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, annual growth rate 5.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved drinking water sources in Australia?
- People using improved drinking water sources in Australia was 8,111 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people using improved drinking water sources recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 47,122 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest people using improved drinking water sources recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,183 people in 2015.
- How does Australia rank for people using improved drinking water sources?
- Australia ranks 124th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people using only unimproved drinking water sources.