Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in United States
United States: Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source was 100.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source 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 %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in United States stood at 100.0%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in United States peaked at 100.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 98.9%, in 2005.
That places United States 47th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 98.9% | — |
| 2006 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.0% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 99.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 99.2% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 99.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 99.3% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 99.4% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 99.5% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 99.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 99.7% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 99.7% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 99.8% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 100.0% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 100.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 100.0%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.9% | 98.9% | 98.9% | 5 |
| 2010s | 99.4% | 99.0% | 99.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.9% | 99.8% | 100.0% | 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 share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in United States?
- Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source in United States was 100.0% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of population using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.9% in 2005.
- How does United States rank for share of population using at least a basic drinking water source?
- United States ranks 47th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population using at least a basic drinking water source rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.