Safely managed drinking water — all countries

Safely managed drinking water — North America

Safely managed drinking water in North America in 2024 — 97.4%. Since 2005, the indicator has risen by 2 pp.

2024 97.4% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 97.4%2024
Period minimum 95.4%2005

Trend over time

2005–2024 · % of population

Safely managed drinking water — North America, 2005–20249595.59696.59797.5200520072009201120132015201720192021202320242005: 95.4%2006: 95.4%2007: 95.4%2008: 95.4%2009: 95.4%2010: 95.6%2011: 95.7%2012: 95.9%2013: 96%2014: 96.2%2015: 96.3%2016: 96.5%2017: 96.6%2018: 96.8%2019: 96.9%2020: 97%2021: 97.2%2022: 97.3%2023: 97.4%2024: 97.4%
Change over the period: +2 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North America

North America 97.4%
World 73.7%
Safely managed drinking water — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 97.4 +0 pp
2023 97.4 +0.1 pp
2022 97.3 +0.1 pp
2021 97.2 +0.1 pp
2020 97 +0.1 pp
2019 96.9 +0.1 pp
2018 96.8 +0.1 pp
2017 96.6 +0.1 pp
2016 96.5 +0.1 pp
2015 96.3 +0.1 pp
2014 96.2 +0.1 pp
2013 96 +0.1 pp
2012 95.9 +0.1 pp
2011 95.7 +0.2 pp
2010 95.6 +0.2 pp
2009 95.4 +0 pp
2008 95.4 +0 pp
2007 95.4 +0 pp
2006 95.4 +0 pp
2005 95.4

About the indicator

The share of the population with safely managed drinking water — the top rung of the WHO and UNICEF ladder. Three requirements at once: the source is improved and located in the dwelling or on the plot, water is available when it is needed, and it is free of contamination. It is this indicator that is written into Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, whereas the better-known “basic access” requires only an improved source within half an hour's walk — the gap between the two measures in some countries exceeds forty percentage points.

Important: Stricter than basic access on three counts at once. There are fewer territories than for the basic indicator: testing for contamination requires laboratory data, which are not available everywhere.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.