Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 0.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh is 0.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 13.9% on the previous year and down 73.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh peaked at 4.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2024.
That places Bangladesh 140th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.1% | — |
| 2001 | 3.9% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -7.5% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -11.1% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | -12.3% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -13.8% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | -15.5% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | -12.3% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -13.9% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 0.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.0%, 6% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 0.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 1.2%, 40% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.5% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 137 Latvia 0.5% compare
- 138 United States Virgin Islands 0.5% compare
- 139 Trinidad and Tobago 0.5% compare
- 141 Guam 0.5% compare
- 142 Palau 0.5% compare
- 143 New Caledonia 0.5% compare
More environment data for Bangladesh
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.59 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.236 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.67 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.31 % 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 -2.43 % 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 share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in Bangladesh was 0.5% 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 share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 4.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2024.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- Bangladesh ranks 140th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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 Share of population not using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion 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.