Using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos
Laos: Using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas was 50.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos, 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 safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos stood at 50.9%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 160.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos peaked at 50.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2000.
Laos ranks 79th of 105 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.9% | — |
| 2001 | 17.1% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 17.4% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 18.2% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 18.6% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 18.8% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 19.0% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 19.2% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 19.4% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 23.0% | +16.6% |
| 2017 | 26.4% | +14.5% |
| 2018 | 29.8% | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | +11.6% |
| 2020 | 36.8% | +10.6% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 44.0% | +9.0% |
| 2023 | 47.6% | +8.1% |
| 2024 | 50.9% | +6.9% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 50.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 55.4%, 92% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Laos's 50.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 62.2%, 82% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.7% | 16.9% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.8% | 18.8% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.9% | 36.8% | 50.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 76 Guatemala 51.7% compare
- 77 Cote d'Ivoire 51.5% compare
- 78 Tonga 50.9% compare
- 80 Zambia 50.2% compare
- 81 Mozambique 47.5% compare
- 82 Dominican Republic 46.9% compare
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % 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 % 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 using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos?
- Using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas in Laos was 50.9% 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 using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 50.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2000.
- How does Laos rank for using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas?
- Laos ranks 79th out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
- Is using safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 160.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos 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 safely managed drinking water in urban vs. rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of people using an improved drinking water source that is located on premises, available when needed and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination.