People not using improved drinking water sources in Syria
Syria: People not using improved drinking water sources was 22,159 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved drinking water sources in Syria, 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 Syria is 22,159 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 87.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved drinking water sources in Syria peaked at 427,895 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 19,848 people, in 2021.
That places Syria 114th 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 Syria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 427,895 people | — |
| 2001 | 414,590 people | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 400,517 people | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 385,712 people | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 370,625 people | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 355,256 people | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 345,053 people | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 339,965 people | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 324,639 people | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 302,151 people | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 281,276 people | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 265,053 people | -5.8% |
| 2012 | 241,477 people | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 207,634 people | -14.0% |
| 2014 | 172,429 people | -17.0% |
| 2015 | 139,564 people | -19.1% |
| 2016 | 113,212 people | -18.9% |
| 2017 | 89,306 people | -21.1% |
| 2018 | 67,070 people | -24.9% |
| 2019 | 45,581 people | -32.0% |
| 2020 | 22,862 people | -49.8% |
| 2021 | 19,848 people | -13.2% |
| 2022 | 20,476 people | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 21,355 people | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 22,159 people | +3.8% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 22,159 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.67 million people, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 22,159 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 55,032 people, 40% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 366,640 people | 302,151 people | 427,895 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 162,260 people | 45,581 people | 281,276 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,340 people | 19,848 people | 22,862 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More environment data for Syria
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2022)
- 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 3.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 1.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) -8.89 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved drinking water sources in Syria?
- People not using improved drinking water sources in Syria was 22,159 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 427,895 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,848 people in 2021.
- How does Syria rank for people not using improved drinking water sources?
- Syria ranks 114th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 87.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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.