Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania
Tanzania: Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services was 51.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania, 2000–2024
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 the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania stood at 51.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania peaked at 51.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 2000.
That places Tanzania 164th out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.3% | — |
| 2001 | 18.5% | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 20.8% | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 22.1% | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 23.4% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 24.7% | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 26.0% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 27.4% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 28.8% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 30.2% | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 31.6% | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 33.0% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 34.4% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 35.9% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 38.8% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 40.3% | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 41.9% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 43.4% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 44.9% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 46.5% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 48.1% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 49.7% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 51.3% | +3.2% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 51.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 75.4%, 68% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 51.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.5%, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.9% | 17.3% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.7% | 30.2% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.1% | 44.9% | 51.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
- 161 Zimbabwe 54.4% compare
- 162 Guinea-Bissau 52.6% compare
- 163 Mozambique 51.9% compare
- 165 Gabon 49.1% compare
- 166 Papua New Guinea 48.3% compare
- 167 Ethiopia 47.0% compare
More environment data for Tanzania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.06 % 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 5.16 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania?
- Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Tanzania was 51.3% 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 the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 51.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 2000.
- How does Tanzania rank for share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services?
- Tanzania ranks 164th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania 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 the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services. 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.