People not using improved drinking water sources in Australia
Australia: People not using improved drinking water sources was 8,111 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not 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
The most recent figure for people not using improved drinking water sources in Australia is 8,111 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved drinking water sources in Australia peaked at 56,398 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 7,182 people, in 2015.
Australia ranks 128th 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 not using improved drinking water sources in Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55,045 people | — |
| 2001 | 55,919 people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 56,398 people | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 52,648 people | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 48,846 people | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 45,024 people | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 41,228 people | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 37,456 people | -9.1% |
| 2008 | 33,648 people | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 29,695 people | -11.7% |
| 2010 | 25,874 people | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 24,285 people | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 22,676 people | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 21,009 people | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 9,089 people | -56.7% |
| 2015 | 7,182 people | -21.0% |
| 2016 | 7,306 people | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 7,436 people | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 7,562 people | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 7,681 people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 7,770 people | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 7,846 people | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 7,932 people | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 8,020 people | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 8,111 people | +1.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 8,111 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0026 people, 3166028.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 8,111 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8,111 people, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45,591 people | 29,695 people | 56,398 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,010 people | 7,182 people | 25,874 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,936 people | 7,770 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)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.0861 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved drinking water sources in Australia?
- People not 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 not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 56,398 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,182 people in 2015.
- How does Australia rank for people not using improved drinking water sources?
- Australia ranks 128th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not 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 not using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people not using improved drinking water sources. These people might use surface water sources or unprotected springs or wells, as no safe and reliable improved drinking water source is available to them.