Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 48.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Central African Republic, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Central African Republic is 48.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Central African Republic peaked at 83.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2021.
Central African Republic ranks 188th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 83.2% | — |
| 2001 | 81.4% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 79.7% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 78.0% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 76.2% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 74.5% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 72.8% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 71.1% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 69.4% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 67.7% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 66.1% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 64.4% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 62.7% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 61.1% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 59.4% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 57.8% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 56.1% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 54.5% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 52.9% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 51.3% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 49.7% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 48.1% | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 48.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 48.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 48.1% | +0.0% |
Central African Republic compared with similar countries
- Central African Republic's 48.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 86.0%, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Central African Republic's 48.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 87.8%, 55% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 75.4% | 67.7% | 83.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.6% | 51.3% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.4% | 48.1% | 49.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
- 185 Guinea-Bissau 72.7% compare
- 186 South Sudan 66.1% compare
- 187 Democratic Republic of Congo 59.3% compare
More environment data for Central African Republic
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -17.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.3 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.22 % 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 1.2 % 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 Central African Republic?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Central African Republic was 48.1% 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 Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 83.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2021.
- How does Central African Republic rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- Central African Republic ranks 188th 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 Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central African Republic 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.