People not using safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: People not using safely managed drinking water sources was 122,408 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom, 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 safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom is 122,408 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 117.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom peaked at 122,408 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2000.
That places United Kingdom 102nd out of 163 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 safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 people | — |
| 2001 | 0 people | — |
| 2002 | 0 people | — |
| 2003 | 0 people | — |
| 2004 | 0 people | — |
| 2005 | 3,463 people | — |
| 2006 | 8,994 people | +159.7% |
| 2007 | 14,615 people | +62.5% |
| 2008 | 20,325 people | +39.1% |
| 2009 | 26,119 people | +28.5% |
| 2010 | 32,010 people | +22.6% |
| 2011 | 37,993 people | +18.7% |
| 2012 | 44,030 people | +15.9% |
| 2013 | 50,132 people | +13.9% |
| 2014 | 56,348 people | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 62,692 people | +11.3% |
| 2016 | 69,130 people | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 75,598 people | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 82,066 people | +8.6% |
| 2019 | 88,558 people | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 94,950 people | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 101,499 people | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 108,413 people | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 115,408 people | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 122,408 people | +6.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 122,408 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 30,638 people, 4.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 122,408 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 199,164 people, 61% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People not using safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +159.7% | 3,463 people | 8,994 people |
| 2007 | +62.5% | 8,994 people | 14,615 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,352 people | 0 people | 26,119 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 59,856 people | 32,010 people | 88,558 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 108,536 people | 94,950 people | 122,408 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.47 % 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 -0.8735 % 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 -1.29 % 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 safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom?
- People not using safely managed drinking water sources in United Kingdom was 122,408 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 safely managed drinking water sources recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 122,408 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people not using safely managed drinking water sources recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2000.
- How does United Kingdom rank for people not using safely managed drinking water sources?
- United Kingdom ranks 102nd out of 163 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using safely managed drinking water sources rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 117.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 safely managed 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
People not using safely managed drinking water sources either use unimproved drinking water sources or the improved sources they use are not located on their premises, not available when needed, or not free of contamination.