People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Congo
Congo: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 850,757 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Congo, 2000–2021
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2021, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Congo stood at 850,757 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Congo peaked at 945,737 people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 817,051 people, in 2017.
That places Congo 53rd out of 178 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 933,574 people | 894,851 people | 945,737 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 872,518 people | 817,051 people | 936,802 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 846,638 people | 842,520 people | 850,757 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More environment data for Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 24.62 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.89 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 0.4604 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.4601 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 13.3 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0013 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 14.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0052 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0073 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 0.7254 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Congo?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Congo was 850,757 people in 2021, 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 945,737 people in 2003.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 817,051 people in 2017.
- How does Congo rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Congo ranks 53rd out of 178 countries with data for 2021.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this 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.
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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.