Topic: Global water accessibility

Water access worldwide - statistics & facts

From water scarcity and climate change to pollution and poor infrastructure, global water supplies are under ever increasing pressure. With billions of people around the world lacking access to clean water and sanitation, and the risk of droughts rising at an alarming rate, water security is now one of the biggest issues facing the planet.

Number of people without basic drinking water services worldwide
***m

Share of global population with access to safely managed drinking water
**%

Share of global population with access to basic hand-washing facilities
75%

��徱�ٴǰ�’s Picks
��徱�ٴǰ�’s Picks
Current statistics on this topic

Water & Wastewater

Global water withdrawals per capita 2022, by select country

Water & Wastewater

Share of population with access to basic drinking water 2022, by region

Water & Wastewater

Renewable water resources worldwide 2024, by country

Overview

Countries with the highest drought exposure 2025
Countries with the highest drought exposure 2025
Countries most exposed to droughts worldwide in 2025, by risk index score
Share of population with access to basic drinking water 2022, by region
Share of population with access to basic drinking water 2022, by region
Share of population with access to at least basic drinking water services worldwide in 2022, by SDG region
Global population based on water security levels 2023
Global population based on water security levels 2023
Population living in water-insecure conditions worldwide as of 2023, by water security level (in billions)
Countries with the lowest water security score worldwide 2023
Countries with the lowest water security score worldwide 2023
Least water-secure countries worldwide as of 2023, based on water security score
Dryland population exposure to droughts and desertification 2023, by warming scenario
Dryland population exposure to droughts and desertification 2023, by warming scenario
Number of people exposed to water stress, heat stress, and desertification due to global warming as of 2023, by scenario (in billions)

Resources

Renewable water resources worldwide 2024, by country
Renewable water resources worldwide 2024, by country
Renewable water resources worldwide in 2024, by selected country (in billions)
Renewable water resources per capita worldwide 2024, by country
Renewable water resources per capita worldwide 2024, by country
Renewable water resources per capita worldwide in 2024, by selected country
Global renewable water resources 2021, by type and region
Global renewable water resources 2021, by type and region
Renewable groundwater and surface water resources worldwide in 2021, by region (in billion cubic meters)
Global renewable surface water resources 2021, by main country
Global renewable surface water resources 2021, by main country
Renewable surface water resources in leading countries worldwide as of 2021 (in billion cubic meters)
Global renewable groundwater resources 2021, by main country
Global renewable groundwater resources 2021, by main country
Renewable groundwater resources in leading countries worldwide as of 2021 (in billion cubic meters)

Consumption

Global water withdrawals 2022, by select country
Global water withdrawals 2022, by select country
Total water withdrawals worldwide as of 2022, by country or territory (in billion cubic meters)
Global water withdrawals per capita 2022, by select country
Global water withdrawals per capita 2022, by select country
Water withdrawals per capita worldwide as of 2022, by select country (in cubic meters per inhabitant)
Total water withdrawals worldwide 2022, by region
Total water withdrawals worldwide 2022, by region
Total water withdrawals worldwide in 2022, by region (in billion cubic meters per year)
Global fresh surface water withdrawals 2020, by main country
Global fresh surface water withdrawals 2020, by main country
Fresh surface water withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters)
Global fresh groundwater withdrawals 2020, by main country
Global fresh groundwater withdrawals 2020, by main country
Fresh groundwater withdrawals worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in billion cubic meters)

Drinking water

Share of global population using drinking water services 2015-2022, by source
Share of global population using drinking water services 2015-2022, by source
Distribution of population with access to drinking water worldwide in 2015 and 2022, by source
Global urban and rural drinking water coverage 2022, by water source
Global urban and rural drinking water coverage 2022, by water source
Drinking water coverage of urban and rural populations worldwide in 2022, by water source
Regional drinking water coverage worldwide 2022, by water source
Regional drinking water coverage worldwide 2022, by water source
Share of regional populations with access to various water sources worldwide in 2022
Global population without basic drinking water services 2000-2022
Global population without basic drinking water services 2000-2022
Number of people without basic drinking water services worldwide in 2000 and 2022 (in millions)
Countries with lowest share of population with access to clean drinking water 2024
Countries with lowest share of population with access to clean drinking water 2024
Countries where the lowest share of the population has access to safely managed drinking water worldwide in 2024
Growth in global accessibility to safe drinking water 2015-2022, by select country
Growth in global accessibility to safe drinking water 2015-2022, by select country
Change in the share of population using safely managed drinking water services in selected countries worldwide from 2015 to 2022

Sanitation

Global population with access to sanitation services 2000-2022, by facility type
Global population with access to sanitation services 2000-2022, by facility type
Number of people with access to sanitation facilities worldwide in 2000 and 2022, by facility type (in billions)
Share of global population using sanitation services 2022, by type
Share of global population using sanitation services 2022, by type
Distribution of population with access to sanitation services worldwide in 2022, by type
Regional sanitation coverage worldwide 2022, by facility type
Regional sanitation coverage worldwide 2022, by facility type
Proportion of regional populations with access to sanitation facilities worldwide in 2022, by type
Countries with the worst sanitation services globally 2022
Countries with the worst sanitation services globally 2022
Countries with the least access to sanitation services worldwide in 2022

Scarcity

Global number of drought disasters 1990-2024
Global number of drought disasters 1990-2024
Number of drought disasters worldwide from 1990 to 2024
Freshwater withdrawals as share of available renewable water resources 2024
Freshwater withdrawals as share of available renewable water resources 2024
Freshwater withdrawals as share of available renewable water resources worldwide in 2024, by selected country
Number of water-related conflicts globally 2000-2023, by role of water
Number of water-related conflicts globally 2000-2023, by role of water
Number of conflicts involving water worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by role of water in the conflict
Number of water-related conflicts globally 2000-2023, by region
Number of water-related conflicts globally 2000-2023, by region
Number of conflicts involving water worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by region
Irrigated crop production affected by water stress worldwide 2024
Irrigated crop production affected by water stress worldwide 2024
Irrigated agricultural production affected by at least high water stress worldwide in 2024, by crop type (in billion metric tons)
Irrigated crop production affected by water stress worldwide 2024, by country
Irrigated crop production affected by water stress worldwide 2024, by country
Irrigated crop production affected by at least high water stress worldwide in 2024, by country (in billion metric tons)

Number of people without basic drinking water services worldwide
***m

Share of global population with access to safely managed drinking water
**%

Share of global population with access to basic hand-washing facilities
75%

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Global water accessibility" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

- Renewable groundwater resources in Asia
- *tr m³
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Global renewable water resources 2021, by type and region
- Renewable water resources in Brazil
- ***tr m³
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Renewable water resources worldwide 2024, by country
- Country with the largest renewable groundwater resources
- United States
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Global renewable groundwater resources 2021, by main country

- Annual water withdrawals in Asia
- *****tr m³
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Total water withdrawals worldwide 2022, by region
- Total water withdrawals in China
- *****bn m³
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Global water withdrawals 2022, by select country
- Annual water withdrawals per capita in Colombia
- 481.23 m³
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Global water withdrawals per capita 2022, by select country

- Annual drought disasters worldwide
- **
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Global number of drought disasters 1990-2024
- Number of water-related conflicts worldwide
- 117
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Number of water-related conflicts globally 2000-2023, by role of water
- Country with the highest exposure to droughts
- Somalia
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Countries with the highest drought exposure 2025

Further reports

Get the best reports to understand your industry

We’re happy to help

Get in touch with us for additional information

Feel free to contact us anytime. We will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible.

Get in touch

��ƽ��

Water access worldwide - statistics & facts

Key insights