Access to clean water is an important problem that affects the health, happiness, and growth of people around the world. Although some progress has been made, many people still do not have safe water to drink.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, as of 2020, about 2 billion people globally lack access to drinking water that is properly managed and safe. This shortage causes serious problems, such as a higher risk of diseases from dirty water, fewer chances to attend school, unequal treatment between boys and girls, and costs that harm communities and economies.

Ranking by access to improved water source

An improved water source, as described by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a drinking water supply that provides enough water that is safe to drink. Examples of improved water sources include water that comes through pipes into homes, wells that are covered to keep them clean, holes drilled into the ground with pumps that people use by hand, water that is sold in bottles or delivered to homes, and systems that collect rainwater and treat it to make it safe.

Ranking by access to safe drinking water

List of countries by percentage of people with access to safe drinking water. Safe drinking water is water from better water sources that are dependable and clean and not polluted.