Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in El Salvador
El Salvador: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 0.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in El Salvador, 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 El Salvador is 0.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 31.7% on the previous year and down 81.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in El Salvador peaked at 14.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2024.
El Salvador ranks 122nd of 231 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.
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.3% | — |
| 2001 | 14.1% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 13.4% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 11.9% | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 10.5% | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 9.8% | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 9.1% | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 8.3% | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 7.0% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -10.1% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -10.8% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | -14.2% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | -16.0% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -18.4% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | -19.2% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -10.9% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 1.4% | -9.4% |
| 2024 | 0.9% | -31.7% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 0.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.2%, 76% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 0.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.1%, 86% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.5% | 8.3% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 2.3% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More environment data for El Salvador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.31 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.58 % 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 0.0446 % 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 El Salvador?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in El Salvador was 0.9% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2024.
- How does El Salvador rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- El Salvador ranks 122nd out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.