Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea
South Korea: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea, 2002–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea stood at 0.0%. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea peaked at 1.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 182nd of 231 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1.2% | — |
| 2003 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -10.8% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -13.7% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -15.9% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -18.9% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -23.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -30.5% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -43.9% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -78.1% |
| 2024 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.2%. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2023 | -78.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 179 United States 0.0% compare
- 180 Qatar 0.0% compare
- 181 San Marino 0.0% compare
- 182 American Samoa 0.0% compare
- 182 Andorra 0.0% compare
- 182 Austria 0.0%
- 182 Belgium 0.0% compare
- 182 Bermuda 0.0%
- 182 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 0.0% compare
- 182 Brazil 0.0% compare
- 182 Brunei 0.0% compare
- 182 Costa Rica 0.0% compare
- 182 Curacao 0.0% compare
- 182 Denmark 0.0%
- 182 Estonia 0.0% compare
- 182 Faroe Islands 0.0%
- 182 Finland 0.0% compare
- 182 France 0.0%
- 182 French Polynesia 0.0%
- 182 Germany 0.0%
- 182 Gibraltar 0.0%
- 182 Greece 0.0% compare
- 182 Greenland 0.0%
- 182 Hong Kong 0.0% compare
- 182 Hungary 0.0% compare
- 182 Iceland 0.0% compare
- 182 Isle of Man 0.0% compare
- 182 Israel 0.0%
- 182 Kuwait 0.0%
- 182 Lebanon 0.0% compare
- 182 Liechtenstein 0.0%
- 182 Luxembourg 0.0% compare
- 182 Macao 0.0%
- 182 Malta 0.0%
- 182 Monaco 0.0%
- 182 Netherlands 0.0%
- 182 New Zealand 0.0% compare
- 182 Northern Mariana Islands 0.0% compare
- 182 Norway 0.0% compare
- 182 Palestine 0.0% compare
- 182 Paraguay 0.0% compare
- 182 Puerto Rico 0.0% compare
- 182 Romania 0.0%
- 182 Saint Barthelemy 0.0% compare
- 182 Singapore 0.0%
- 182 Slovakia 0.0% compare
- 182 Switzerland 0.0%
- 182 Thailand 0.0% compare
- 182 Tokelau 0.0% compare
- 182 United Arab Emirates 0.0% compare
- 182 United Kingdom 0.0%
- 182 Uruguay 0.0% compare
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Korea was 0.0% 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- South Korea ranks 182nd out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
Download this data
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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.