Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source was 36.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic is 36.5%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic peaked at 59.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2021.
That places Central African Republic 230th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 59.0% | — |
| 2001 | 57.8% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 56.7% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 55.5% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 54.3% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 53.2% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 52.0% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 50.9% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 49.8% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 48.7% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 47.6% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 45.5% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 44.4% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 43.4% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 42.3% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 41.3% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 40.2% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 39.2% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 38.2% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 37.2% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 36.2% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 36.3% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 36.4% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 36.5% | +0.3% |
Central African Republic compared with similar countries
- Central African Republic's 36.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 64.9%, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Central African Republic's 36.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.2%, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 53.8% | 48.7% | 59.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.9% | 38.2% | 47.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.5% | 36.2% | 37.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
- 227 Eritrea 51.8% compare
- 228 Burkina Faso 50.0% compare
- 229 South Sudan 39.7% compare
- 231 Democratic Republic of Congo 35.7% compare
More environment data for Central African Republic
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -17.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.3 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.22 % 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 1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic?
- Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in Central African Republic was 36.5% 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 share of population using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 59.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2021.
- How does Central African Republic rank for share of population using at least a basic drinking water source?
- Central African Republic ranks 230th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population using at least a basic drinking water source rising or falling in Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central African Republic 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 Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people who use an improved drinking water source, which is either located on their premises, or at a collection point, which takes no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.