Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in United States
United States: 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 United States, 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 United States is 100.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in United States peaked at 100.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 99.7%, in 2000.
That places United States 40th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 99.8% | 99.7% | 99.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 100.0% | 99.9% | 100.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 5,913 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 17.39 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 257.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 9.47 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 418.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 1.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 843.36 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 3.59 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 149.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in United States?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in United States 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 99.7% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- United States ranks 40th 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 United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States 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.