People using at least a basic drinking water source in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: People using at least a basic drinking water source was 38.99 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least a basic drinking water source in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 38.99 million people for people using at least a basic drinking water source in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and up 36.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least a basic drinking water source in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 38.99 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18.97 million people, in 2000.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 33rd of 231 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least a basic drinking water source in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.97 million people | — |
| 2001 | 19.56 million people | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 20.15 million people | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 20.72 million people | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 21.31 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 21.94 million people | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 22.58 million people | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 23.23 million people | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 23.88 million people | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 24.58 million people | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 25.30 million people | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 26.07 million people | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 26.88 million people | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 27.72 million people | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 28.57 million people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 29.42 million people | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 30.37 million people | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 31.36 million people | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 32.29 million people | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 33.17 million people | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 34.09 million people | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 35.02 million people | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 35.97 million people | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 37.45 million people | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 38.99 million people | +4.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 38.99 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.44 million people, 2.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 38.99 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.33 million people, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.69 million people | 18.97 million people | 24.58 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.12 million people | 25.30 million people | 33.17 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.30 million people | 34.09 million people | 38.99 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 5.2 % 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 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- 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) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least a basic drinking water source in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- People using at least a basic drinking water source in Democratic Republic of Congo was 38.99 million 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 using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 38.99 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.97 million people in 2000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for people using at least a basic drinking water source?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 33rd out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least a basic drinking water source rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 using at least a basic drinking water source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people using an improved drinking water source, which is either available on premises, or collection time is no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.