Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 59.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 59.3%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 70.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 59.3%, in 2022.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 187th 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 70.7% | — |
| 2001 | 70.3% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 69.9% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 69.4% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 69.0% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 68.5% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 68.0% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 67.6% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 67.1% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 66.6% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 66.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 65.6% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 65.0% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 64.5% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 64.0% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 63.4% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 62.9% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 62.3% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 61.7% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 61.1% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 60.5% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 59.9% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 59.3% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 59.3% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 59.3% | +0.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 59.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 86.0%, 69% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 59.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 87.8%, 68% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.7% | 66.6% | 70.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.7% | 61.1% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.7% | 59.3% | 60.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 184 Togo 73.6% compare
- 185 Guinea-Bissau 72.7% compare
- 186 South Sudan 66.1% compare
- 188 Central African Republic 48.1% compare
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 5.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- 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)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo was 59.3% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 70.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.3% in 2022.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 187th 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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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.