People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 17,709 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia stood at 17,709 people.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in Saudi Arabia peaked at 17,929 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 11,464 people, in 2000.
That places Saudi Arabia 107th out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11,464 people | — |
| 2001 | 11,938 people | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 12,405 people | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 12,862 people | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 13,311 people | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 13,751 people | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 14,183 people | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 14,608 people | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 15,027 people | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 15,442 people | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 15,848 people | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 16,246 people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 16,634 people | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 17,010 people | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 17,375 people | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 17,728 people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 17,929 people | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 17,728 people | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 17,250 people | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 17,075 people | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 17,123 people | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 17,066 people | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 17,277 people | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 17,604 people | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 17,709 people | +0.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 17,709 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 80,074 people, 22% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13,499 people | 11,464 people | 15,442 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,082 people | 15,848 people | 17,929 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,356 people | 17,066 people | 17,709 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % 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 9.62 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in Saudi Arabia was 17,709 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 17,929 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,464 people in 2000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 107th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.