Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in China
China: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 97.3% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas 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 at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in China stood at 97.3%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in China peaked at 98.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 97.3%, in 2023.
That places China 110th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 98.2% | — |
| 2001 | 98.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 98.2% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 98.1% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 98.1% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 98.1% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 98.0% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 98.0% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 97.9% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 97.9% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 97.9% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 97.8% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 97.8% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 97.7% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 97.7% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 97.7% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 97.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 97.6% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 97.5% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 97.5% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 97.5% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 97.4% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 97.4% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 97.3% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 97.3% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 97.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 98.2%, 99% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 97.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 98.2%, 99% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.1% | 97.9% | 98.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.7% | 97.5% | 97.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.4% | 97.3% | 97.5% | 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)
- 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)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in China?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in China was 97.3% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 98.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.3% in 2023.
- How does China rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- China ranks 110th 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 China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. 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 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.