Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia
Australia: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 100.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia, 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 at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia stood at 100.0%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia peaked at 100.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 99.8%, in 2000.
Australia ranks 41st of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 99.8% | — |
| 2001 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 100.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 100.0%, 100% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Australia's 100.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 99.9% | 99.8% | 99.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 100.0% | 99.9% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 39 Portugal 100.0% compare
- 40 United States 100.0% compare
- 42 Croatia 99.9% compare
- 43 Saint Martin (French part) 99.9% compare
- 44 Colombia 99.9% compare
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % 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 0.0861 % 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 using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Australia was 100.0% 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 using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 99.8% in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- Australia ranks 41st out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia 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 at least basic drinking water sources 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 who use an improved drinking water source, which is either located on their premises, or at a collection point, which takes no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.