Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal
Nepal: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 92.3% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal, 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 Nepal stood at 92.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal peaked at 92.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 91.1%, in 2000.
That places Nepal 146th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 91.1% | — |
| 2001 | 91.1% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 91.2% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 91.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 91.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 91.4% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 91.4% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 91.5% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 91.5% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 91.6% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 91.6% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 91.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 91.7% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 91.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 91.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 91.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 91.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 92.0% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 92.0% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 92.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 92.1% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 92.2% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 92.2% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 92.3% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 92.3% | +0.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 92.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 94.4%, 98% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 92.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 98.2%, 94% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 91.3% | 91.1% | 91.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.8% | 91.6% | 92.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 92.2% | 92.1% | 92.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More environment data for Nepal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.43 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.54 % 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 -6.53 % 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 Nepal?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal was 92.3% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 92.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.1% in 2000.
- How does Nepal rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- Nepal ranks 146th 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 Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nepal 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.