People not using improved drinking water sources in Canada
Canada: People not using improved drinking water sources was 679,492 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved drinking water sources in Canada, 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 Canada is 679,492 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 73.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved drinking water sources in Canada peaked at 679,492 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 137,514 people, in 2001.
That places Canada 65th 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 not using improved drinking water sources in Canada, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 137,527 people | — |
| 2001 | 137,514 people | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 138,589 people | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 139,559 people | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 140,507 people | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 163,183 people | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 186,315 people | +14.2% |
| 2007 | 209,656 people | +12.5% |
| 2008 | 233,704 people | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 258,480 people | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 283,804 people | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 309,666 people | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 336,476 people | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 363,845 people | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 391,411 people | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 419,309 people | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 448,454 people | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 478,978 people | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 510,570 people | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 542,873 people | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 574,393 people | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 604,817 people | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 637,086 people | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 671,816 people | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 679,492 people | +1.1% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 679,492 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0026 people, 265216254.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 174,503 people | 137,514 people | 258,480 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 408,539 people | 283,804 people | 542,873 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 633,521 people | 574,393 people | 679,492 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More environment data for Canada
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.7 % 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 -0.3398 % 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 Canada?
- People not using improved drinking water sources in Canada was 679,492 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 679,492 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 137,514 people in 2001.
- How does Canada rank for people not using improved drinking water sources?
- Canada ranks 65th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.