Water quality

Safely managed drinking water coverage

This dashboard relies on the World Bank indicator SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS, the most comparable dataset for safe drinking water services. Higher values are better because they represent a larger share of residents served by regulated utilities and point-of-use disinfection.

Countries covered

Latest surveys 2018-2023

Average coverage

70.5%

Weighted equally per country

Newest data point

2022

Best-performing country

Map of drinking water access

Safely managed drinking water (%)

28%

99%

Click any country to reveal air quality and water access readings side by side.

World Bank indicator SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS (% population with safely managed drinking water). Click any country to see paired PM2.5 readings.

Global rankings

Top 15 countries with safe water

1. Austria (2022)
98.9%
Safely managed coverage
2. Bahrain (2022)
98.9%
Safely managed coverage
3. Euro area (2022)
98.2%
Safely managed coverage
4. Post-demographic dividend (2022)
97.8%
Safely managed coverage
5. North America (2022)
97.4%
Safely managed coverage
6. European Union (2022)
96.8%
Safely managed coverage
7. Belarus (2022)
93.1%
Safely managed coverage
8. Europe & Central Asia (2022)
91.9%
Safely managed coverage
9. Central Europe and the Baltics (2022)
91.4%
Safely managed coverage
10. OECD members (2022)
91.3%
Safely managed coverage
11. Andorra (2022)
90.6%
Safely managed coverage
12. American Samoa (2021)
89.9%
Safely managed coverage
13. Armenia (2022)
82.4%
Safely managed coverage
14. Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) (2022)
80.1%
Safely managed coverage
15. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (2022)
78.5%
Safely managed coverage

Top 15 countries needing investment

1. Least developed countries: UN classification (2022)
28.5%
Safely managed coverage
2. Africa Western and Central (2022)
29.5%
Safely managed coverage
3. Afghanistan (2022)
30.0%
Safely managed coverage
4. IDA only (2022)
30.8%
Safely managed coverage
5. Fragile and conflict affected situations (2021)
31.2%
Safely managed coverage
6. Sub-Saharan Africa (2022)
32.0%
Safely managed coverage
7. IDA total (2022)
35.4%
Safely managed coverage
8. IDA blend (2022)
42.6%
Safely managed coverage
9. Bangladesh (2022)
59.1%
Safely managed coverage
10. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) (2022)
61.8%
Safely managed coverage
11. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) (2022)
62.0%
Safely managed coverage
12. Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) (2022)
68.1%
Safely managed coverage
13. Low & middle income (2022)
68.8%
Safely managed coverage
14. Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) (2022)
69.4%
Safely managed coverage
15. Algeria (2022)
70.6%
Safely managed coverage

Capital city view

15 cities with safest taps

1. Vienna
98.9%
Austria • Survey 2022
2. Manama
98.9%
Bahrain • Survey 2022
3. Euro area Capital
98.2%
Euro area • Survey 2022
4. Post-demographic dividend Capital
97.8%
Post-demographic dividend • Survey 2022
5. North America Capital
97.4%
North America • Survey 2022
6. European Union Capital
96.8%
European Union • Survey 2022
7. Minsk
93.1%
Belarus • Survey 2022
8. Europe & Central Asia Capital
91.9%
Europe & Central Asia • Survey 2022
9. Central Europe and the Baltics Capital
91.4%
Central Europe and the Baltics • Survey 2022
10. OECD members Capital
91.3%
OECD members • Survey 2022
11. Andorra la Vella
90.6%
Andorra • Survey 2022
12. Pago Pago
89.9%
American Samoa • Survey 2021
13. Yerevan
82.4%
Armenia • Survey 2022
14. Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) Capital
80.1%
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) • Survey 2022
15. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan Capital
78.5%
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan • Survey 2022

15 cities needing upgrades

1. Least developed countries: UN classification Capital
28.5%
Least developed countries: UN classification • Survey 2022
2. Africa Western and Central Capital
29.5%
Africa Western and Central • Survey 2022
3. Kabul
30.0%
Afghanistan • Survey 2022
4. IDA only Capital
30.8%
IDA only • Survey 2022
5. Fragile and conflict affected situations Capital
31.2%
Fragile and conflict affected situations • Survey 2021
6. Sub-Saharan Africa Capital
32.0%
Sub-Saharan Africa • Survey 2022
7. IDA total Capital
35.4%
IDA total • Survey 2022
8. IDA blend Capital
42.6%
IDA blend • Survey 2022
9. Dhaka
59.1%
Bangladesh • Survey 2022
10. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) Capital
61.8%
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) • Survey 2022
11. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) Capital
62.0%
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) • Survey 2022
12. Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) Capital
68.1%
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) • Survey 2022
13. Low & middle income Capital
68.8%
Low & middle income • Survey 2022
14. Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) Capital
69.4%
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) • Survey 2022
15. Algiers
70.6%
Algeria • Survey 2022

City names follow national capitals to provide a relatable reference point for the national survey values.

How to interpret the data

Safely managed drinking water services mean water sources located on premises, available when needed and free from contamination. Lower percentages typically reflect insufficient chlorination, drought, or conflict-driven damage to infrastructure.

This page updates twice a day to capture new releases from government statistical offices as they flow through the World Bank.