Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in United States
United States: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.0%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
179th
of 231 countries
All-time high
1.1%
in 2005
All-time low
0.0%
in 2023
Years of data
20
2005–2024
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in United States, 2005–2024
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 United States stood at 0.0%.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 97.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in United States peaked at 1.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2023.
That places United States 179th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1.1% | — |
| 2006 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -11.3% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -14.1% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -16.2% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -19.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -23.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -29.7% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -41.5% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -65.8% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -45.7% |
| 2024 | 0.0% | +0.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 2563.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 176 Saint Lucia 0.1% compare
- 177 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.0% compare
- 178 Australia 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 South Korea 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 United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved drinking water sources in United States?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in United States 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2023.
- How does United States rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- United States ranks 179th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 97.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.