Over two billion individuals globally still do not have access to safely-managed drinking water, the United Nations reported on Tuesday, highlighting that the progress towards universal access is alarmingly slow.
The UN’s health and children’s agencies noted that last year, one in four people worldwide lacked safely-managed drinking water, with more than 100 million people depending on surface water from sources like rivers and ponds.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF stressed that inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are increasing the risk of disease for billions.
Afghan refugee girls collect drinking water from a hand pump at the Khurasan refugee camp on the outskirts of Peshawar on August 10, 2025. — AFP
In a joint study, they warned that the world is significantly off course to achieve universal service coverage by 2030.
The goal “is increasingly out of reach,” they cautioned.
“Water, sanitation, and hygiene are not luxuries: they are fundamental human rights,” declared WHO’s environment chief Ruediger Krech.
“We must speed up efforts, particularly for the most marginalized communities.”
The report evaluated five levels of drinking water services.
Safely managed, the highest level, means drinking water is accessible on-site, available when needed, and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination.
The four lower levels are basic (improved water accessible in under 30 minutes), limited (improved but takes longer), unimproved (from an unprotected well or spring), and surface water.
– Surface Water Usage Declines –
Since 2015, 961 million people have gained access to safely-managed drinking water, increasing coverage from 68% to 74%, the report found.
Of the 2.1 billion people lacking safely managed drinking water services last year, 106 million relied on surface water — a drop of 61 million over the past decade.
The number of countries eliminating surface water use for drinking rose from 142 in 2015 to 154 in 2024, according to the study.
In 2024, 89 countries had universal access to at least basic drinking water, with 31 achieving universal access to safely managed services.
The 28 countries where more than one in four people still lacked basic services were mainly in Africa.
– Goals Drifting Away –
Regarding sanitation, 1.2 billion people have gained access to safely managed sanitation services since 2015, increasing coverage from 48% to 58%, the study revealed.
These services are defined as improved facilities that are not shared with other households and where waste is safely managed on-site or removed and treated elsewhere.
The number of people practicing open defecation has decreased by 429 million to 354 million by 2024, or about 4% of the global population.
Since 2015, 1.6 billion people have gained access to basic hygiene services — a handwashing facility with soap and water at home — raising coverage from 66% to 80%, the study reported.
“When children lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, their health, education, and futures are jeopardized,” warned Cecilia Scharp, UNICEF’s director for WASH.
“These disparities are particularly harsh for girls, who often carry the burden of water collection and face extra challenges during menstruation.
“At the current pace, the commitment to safe water and sanitation for every child is becoming increasingly elusive.”
