People using improved drinking water sources in United States of America
United States of America: People using improved drinking water sources was 67,550 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People using improved drinking water sources in United States of America, 2005–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 67,550 people for people using improved drinking water sources in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 96.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved drinking water sources in United States of America peaked at 3.31 million people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 66,985 people, in 2023.
United States of America ranks 93rd of 231 countries on this measure, 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3.26 million people | — |
| 2006 | 3.27 million people | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 3.29 million people | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 3.30 million people | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 3.31 million people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 3.08 million people | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 2.84 million people | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 2.60 million people | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 2.35 million people | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 2.11 million people | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 1.86 million people | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 1.61 million people | -13.3% |
| 2017 | 1.36 million people | -15.4% |
| 2018 | 1.11 million people | -18.4% |
| 2019 | 862,609 people | -22.6% |
| 2020 | 609,558 people | -29.3% |
| 2021 | 357,360 people | -41.4% |
| 2022 | 122,561 people | -65.7% |
| 2023 | 66,985 people | -45.3% |
| 2024 | 67,550 people | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.29 million people | 3.26 million people | 3.31 million people | 5 |
| 2010s | 1.98 million people | 862,609 people | 3.08 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 244,803 people | 66,985 people | 609,558 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More environment data for United States of America
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.91 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.62 Percentage change (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,193 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 1,199 (2024)
- Total fisheries production 4.68 million metric tons (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 4.21 million metric tons (2024)
- Aquaculture production 467,617 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 9.94 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved drinking water sources in United States of America?
- People using improved drinking water sources in United States of America was 67,550 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 3.31 million people in 2009.
- What is the lowest people using improved drinking water sources recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 66,985 people in 2023.
- How does United States of America rank for people using improved drinking water sources?
- United States of America ranks 93rd out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 96.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people using only unimproved drinking water sources.