People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea
Eritrea: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 911,772 people in 2016. ▲ Rising
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea, 2000–2016
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea is 911,772 people, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea peaked at 924,184 people in 2013 and was at its lowest, 687,889 people, in 2000.
That places Eritrea 51st out of 178 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 687,889 people | — |
| 2001 | 707,820 people | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 732,213 people | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 762,301 people | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 792,953 people | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 810,453 people | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 821,140 people | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 830,547 people | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 849,461 people | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 872,769 people | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 891,604 people | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 909,023 people | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 921,743 people | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 924,184 people | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 921,420 people | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 915,383 people | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 911,772 people | -0.4% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 911,772 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.34 million people, 39% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 911,772 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.93 million people, 47% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 786,755 people | 687,889 people | 872,769 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 913,590 people | 891,604 people | 924,184 people | 7 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More environment data for Eritrea
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -12.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -10.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 57.1 % change on previous year (2023)
- Standard Deviation 0.531 °C (2023)
- Temperature change 0.012 °C (2023)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6471 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2011)
- 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 0.3665 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Eritrea was 911,772 people in 2016, 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 Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 924,184 people in 2013.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 687,889 people in 2000.
- How does Eritrea rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Eritrea ranks 51st out of 178 countries with data for 2016.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eritrea 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 — 17 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.