People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 38.51 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People in rural areas not using an improved 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
In 2024, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 38.51 million people. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 38.51 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 24.20 million people, in 2000.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 1st of 178 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.20 million people | — |
| 2001 | 24.71 million people | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 25.19 million people | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 25.65 million people | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 26.12 million people | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 26.63 million people | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 27.15 million people | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 27.65 million people | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 28.16 million people | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 28.69 million people | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 29.25 million people | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 29.84 million people | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 30.46 million people | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 31.10 million people | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 31.74 million people | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 32.37 million people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 33.07 million people | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 33.82 million people | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 34.48 million people | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 35.07 million people | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 35.69 million people | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 36.31 million people | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 36.93 million people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 37.72 million people | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 38.51 million people | +2.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 38.51 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.34 million people, 16.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 38.51 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.93 million people, 20.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.42 million people | 24.20 million people | 28.69 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.12 million people | 29.25 million people | 35.07 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.03 million people | 35.69 million people | 38.51 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 in rural areas not using an improved water source in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Democratic Republic of Congo was 38.51 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 38.51 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.20 million people in 2000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 1st out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. 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 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.