Safely managed drinking water — all countries

Safely managed drinking water — South Asia

Safely managed drinking water in South Asia in 2024 — 77.6%. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 36.5 pp.

2024 77.6% +1.6 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 77.6%2024
Period minimum 41%2000

Trend over time

2000–2024 · % of population

Safely managed drinking water — South Asia, 2000–202440506070802000200320062009201220152018202120242000: 41%2001: 42.3%2002: 43.7%2003: 45%2004: 46.4%2005: 47.8%2006: 49.3%2007: 50.8%2008: 52.3%2009: 53.8%2010: 55.3%2011: 56.9%2012: 58.4%2013: 60%2014: 61.5%2015: 63.1%2016: 64.7%2017: 66.3%2018: 67.9%2019: 69.5%2020: 71.1%2021: 72.7%2022: 74.3%2023: 75.9%2024: 77.6%
Change over the period: +36.5 pp Annual average: 1.52 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Asia

South Asia 77.6%
World 73.7%
Safely managed drinking water — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 77.6 +1.6 pp
2023 75.9 +1.6 pp
2022 74.3 +1.6 pp
2021 72.7 +1.6 pp
2020 71.1 +1.6 pp
2019 69.5 +1.6 pp
2018 67.9 +1.6 pp
2017 66.3 +1.6 pp
2016 64.7 +1.6 pp
2015 63.1 +1.6 pp
2014 61.5 +1.6 pp
2013 60 +1.6 pp
2012 58.4 +1.5 pp
2011 56.9 +1.5 pp
2010 55.3 +1.5 pp
2009 53.8 +1.5 pp
2008 52.3 +1.5 pp
2007 50.8 +1.5 pp
2006 49.3 +1.5 pp
2005 47.8 +1.5 pp
2004 46.4 +1.4 pp
2003 45 +1.3 pp
2002 43.7 +1.3 pp
2001 42.3 +1.3 pp
2000 41

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.