People in rural areas not using an improved water source in China
China: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 30.67 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in China, 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
In 2024, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in China stood at 30.67 million people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 69.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in China peaked at 240.07 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 30.67 million people, in 2024.
China ranks 2nd of 178 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 240.07 million people | — |
| 2001 | 237.21 million people | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 225.30 million people | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 213.44 million people | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 201.72 million people | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 190.24 million people | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 179.11 million people | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 168.23 million people | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 157.58 million people | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 147.24 million people | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 137.15 million people | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 127.43 million people | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 118.08 million people | -7.3% |
| 2013 | 108.98 million people | -7.7% |
| 2014 | 100.08 million people | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 91.38 million people | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 82.94 million people | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 74.80 million people | -9.8% |
| 2018 | 66.91 million people | -10.6% |
| 2019 | 59.27 million people | -11.4% |
| 2020 | 51.90 million people | -12.4% |
| 2021 | 44.81 million people | -13.7% |
| 2022 | 38.05 million people | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 31.61 million people | -16.9% |
| 2024 | 30.67 million people | -3.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 30.67 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40,286 people, 761.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 30.67 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 142,459 people, 215.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 196.01 million people | 147.24 million people | 240.07 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.70 million people | 59.27 million people | 137.15 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.41 million people | 30.67 million people | 51.90 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % 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 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using an improved water source in China?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in China was 30.67 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 in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 240.07 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.67 million people in 2024.
- How does China rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- China ranks 2nd out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 in rural areas not using an improved water source. 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
Number of people not using improved drinking water sources. These people might use surface water sources or unprotected springs or wells, as no safe and reliable improved drinking water source is available to them.