Top 10 Countries With Greatest Needs For Clean Drinking Water
Worldwide over 2 billion people, about 25% of the world’s population, don’t have access to safely managed drinking water. Where is it most critical?
By Geno Teofilo
9/30/20261 min read
In developed countries, most people take clean water for granted. But worldwide, over 2 billion people, about 25% of the world’s population, don’t have access to safely managed drinking water, that is consistently available, and accessible at their home site, and also free from contamination.
In these countries, a high proportion of their people have no choice but to use unimproved drinking water sources. This includes water from unprotected wells, springs, and surface water. Most of these are unsanitary, and can be sources of deadly waterbourne diseases such as Acute Watery Diarrhea, Cholera, Dysentery, Hepatitus, and many other diseases and health problems, including parasites.
Where is the lack of clean drinking water situation at its worst? Here are the top 10 countries, most in need of clean water, in terms of percentage of the overall population.
Common points on clean water shortages across these countries:
- 5 of these 10 countries have had long term wars or conflicts that have destroyed water infrastructure, while insecurity prevents water system repairs, and prevents new water project construction.
- Repeated droughts are another common cause of water crises in these countries. Several scientific and governmental sources have stated that some droughts in this century have been caused, or intensified by climate change.
- 6 of these 10 countries are in Africa.
- 3 of these 10 countries are in Asia.
The statistics in the above table were tabulated according to data from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene. Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2000-2024: Special Focus on Inequalities (2025).