People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Iran
Iran: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 177,028 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Iran, 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 Iran stood at 177,028 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 27.9% on the previous year and down 80.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Iran peaked at 2.06 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 177,028 people, in 2024.
Iran ranks 76th of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.06 million people | — |
| 2001 | 1.98 million people | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 1.88 million people | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 1.79 million people | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 1.71 million people | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 1.64 million people | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 1.56 million people | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 1.48 million people | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 1.40 million people | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 1.31 million people | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 1.23 million people | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 1.15 million people | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 1.07 million people | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 987,414 people | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 909,670 people | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 832,879 people | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 757,398 people | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 682,687 people | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 607,777 people | -11.0% |
| 2019 | 532,867 people | -12.3% |
| 2020 | 457,846 people | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 384,836 people | -15.9% |
| 2022 | 314,584 people | -18.3% |
| 2023 | 245,427 people | -22.0% |
| 2024 | 177,028 people | -27.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 177,028 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40,286 people, 4.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Iran's 177,028 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 80,074 people, 2.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.68 million people | 1.31 million people | 2.06 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 875,283 people | 532,867 people | 1.23 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 315,944 people | 177,028 people | 457,846 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % 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 1.9 % 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 -0.0807 % 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 people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Iran?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Iran was 177,028 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 2.06 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 177,028 people in 2024.
- How does Iran rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Iran ranks 76th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.