People not using improved drinking water sources in United States
United States: People not using improved drinking water sources was 67,545 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved drinking water sources in United States, 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
In 2024, people not using improved drinking water sources in United States stood at 67,545 people.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 96.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved drinking water sources in United States peaked at 3.31 million people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 66,981 people, in 2023.
That places United States 100th 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 United States, 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 | 862,618 people | -22.6% |
| 2020 | 609,562 people | -29.3% |
| 2021 | 357,363 people | -41.4% |
| 2022 | 122,572 people | -65.7% |
| 2023 | 66,981 people | -45.4% |
| 2024 | 67,545 people | +0.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 67,545 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0026 people, 26363938.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
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 | 862,618 people | 3.08 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 244,805 people | 66,981 people | 609,562 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- 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)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved drinking water sources in United States?
- People not using improved drinking water sources in United States was 67,545 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.31 million people in 2009.
- What is the lowest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 66,981 people in 2023.
- How does United States rank for people not using improved drinking water sources?
- United States ranks 100th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in United States?
- 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 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 — 20 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.