Where Data Tells the Story
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Where Is It Safe to Drink the Tap Water?
As part of its goal to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, the United Nations classifies drinking water services into several categories. This map highlights the two highest tiers: Safely Managed and Basic Service.
Safely Managed Drinking Water
This is the highest standard and requires all of the following:
“Improved water sources” are designed and constructed to provide safe drinking water. These include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected wells, protected springs, rainwater collection, and packaged or delivered water.
Basic Service
This water service includes:
Water classified as Basic Service comes from an improved source but does not meet all the additional requirements for safely managed service. It may require travel to collect, may not always be available when needed, or may lack verified water quality.
Reading the Map
Countries shown in blue have access to safely managed drinking water service. Countries shown in green fall into the Basic Service category, meaning drinking water comes from an improved source but does not consistently meet all the requirements for safely managed service.
Reliable access to clean drinking water is essential for human health and well-being. Safe, readily available water reduces waterborne disease, improves quality of life, and frees time that can be spent on education, work, and community activities.
An estimated 74% of the world's population has access to safely managed drinking water service.
Note: For some countries, data is available for urban areas only. All other values represent national-level estimates.