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.
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 99.7% | — |
| 2001 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 100.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 100.0%, 100% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 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 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.