Using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China
China: Using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population was 97.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China stood at 97.6%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China peaked at 98.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 97.6%, in 2023.
China ranks 142nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 98.8% | — |
| 2001 | 98.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 98.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 98.7% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 98.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 98.6% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 98.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 98.5% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 98.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 98.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 98.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 98.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 98.2% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 98.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 98.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 98.1% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 98.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 98.0% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 97.9% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 97.8% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 97.8% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 97.7% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 97.7% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 97.6% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 97.6% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 97.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.7%, 98% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 97.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 99.4%, 98% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.6% | 98.4% | 98.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.1% | 97.8% | 98.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.7% | 97.6% | 97.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China?
- Using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population in China was 97.6% 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 using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 98.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.6% in 2023.
- How does China rank for using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population?
- China ranks 142nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this China 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 Using improved water sources: urban vs. rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people who use an improved drinking water source, regardless of collection time. An improved drinking water source is a safely designed drinking water source and includes e.g. piped water, boreholes or tubewells and packaged or delivered water.