People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Namibia
Namibia: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 176,687 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Namibia, 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 Namibia stood at 176,687 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 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Namibia peaked at 289,406 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 176,687 people, in 2024.
That places Namibia 77th out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Namibia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 289,406 people | — |
| 2001 | 287,854 people | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 283,774 people | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 278,409 people | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 272,468 people | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 266,393 people | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 260,303 people | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 254,276 people | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 248,338 people | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 242,513 people | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 236,782 people | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 231,363 people | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 226,893 people | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 223,117 people | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 219,191 people | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 215,190 people | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 211,187 people | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 207,182 people | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 203,168 people | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 199,121 people | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 195,213 people | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 191,299 people | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 186,971 people | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 182,091 people | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 176,687 people | -3.0% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 176,687 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 796,634 people, 22% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 176,687 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.93 million people, 9% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 268,373 people | 242,513 people | 289,406 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 217,319 people | 199,121 people | 236,782 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 186,452 people | 176,687 people | 195,213 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.32 % 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 4.07 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Namibia?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Namibia was 176,687 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 289,406 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 176,687 people in 2024.
- How does Namibia rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Namibia ranks 77th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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.