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

67.2%

Weighted equally per country

Newest data point

2023

Best-performing country

Map of drinking water access

Safely managed drinking water (%)

30%

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. Bahrain (2023)
98.9%
Safely managed coverage
2. Austria (2023)
98.9%
Safely managed coverage
3. North America (2023)
97.4%
Safely managed coverage
4. Belarus (2023)
93.1%
Safely managed coverage
5. Europe & Central Asia (2023)
92.4%
Safely managed coverage
6. Andorra (2023)
90.6%
Safely managed coverage
7. American Samoa (2023)
90.5%
Safely managed coverage
8. Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) (2023)
85.3%
Safely managed coverage
9. Armenia (2023)
82.2%
Safely managed coverage
10. Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) (2023)
81.6%
Safely managed coverage
11. Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) (2023)
79.3%
Safely managed coverage
12. IBRD only (2023)
78.9%
Safely managed coverage
13. Latin America & Caribbean (2023)
78.6%
Safely managed coverage
14. Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) (2023)
77.9%
Safely managed coverage
15. South Asia (2023)
75.9%
Safely managed coverage

Top 15 countries needing investment

1. Africa Western and Central (2023)
29.9%
Safely managed coverage
2. Afghanistan (2023)
29.9%
Safely managed coverage
3. Africa Eastern and Southern (2023)
31.5%
Safely managed coverage
4. Sub-Saharan Africa (2023)
31.9%
Safely managed coverage
5. Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) (2023)
31.9%
Safely managed coverage
6. Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) (2023)
34.1%
Safely managed coverage
7. IDA blend (2023)
40.6%
Safely managed coverage
8. IDA only (2023)
41.0%
Safely managed coverage
9. IDA total (2023)
41.0%
Safely managed coverage
10. Azerbaijan (2023)
57.5%
Safely managed coverage
11. Bangladesh (2023)
59.1%
Safely managed coverage
12. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) (2023)
64.3%
Safely managed coverage
13. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) (2023)
64.4%
Safely managed coverage
14. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (2023)
65.6%
Safely managed coverage
15. IDA & IBRD total (2023)
68.4%
Safely managed coverage

Capital city view

15 cities with safest taps

1. Manama
98.9%
Bahrain • Survey 2023
2. Vienna
98.9%
Austria • Survey 2023
3. North America Capital
97.4%
North America • Survey 2023
4. Minsk
93.1%
Belarus • Survey 2023
5. Europe & Central Asia Capital
92.4%
Europe & Central Asia • Survey 2023
6. Andorra la Vella
90.6%
Andorra • Survey 2023
7. Pago Pago
90.5%
American Samoa • Survey 2023
8. Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) Capital
85.3%
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) • Survey 2023
9. Yerevan
82.2%
Armenia • Survey 2023
10. Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) Capital
81.6%
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) • Survey 2023
11. Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) Capital
79.3%
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) • Survey 2023
12. IBRD only Capital
78.9%
IBRD only • Survey 2023
13. Latin America & Caribbean Capital
78.6%
Latin America & Caribbean • Survey 2023
14. Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) Capital
77.9%
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) • Survey 2023
15. South Asia Capital
75.9%
South Asia • Survey 2023

15 cities needing upgrades

1. Africa Western and Central Capital
29.9%
Africa Western and Central • Survey 2023
2. Kabul
29.9%
Afghanistan • Survey 2023
3. Africa Eastern and Southern Capital
31.5%
Africa Eastern and Southern • Survey 2023
4. Sub-Saharan Africa Capital
31.9%
Sub-Saharan Africa • Survey 2023
5. Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) Capital
31.9%
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) • Survey 2023
6. Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) Capital
34.1%
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) • Survey 2023
7. IDA blend Capital
40.6%
IDA blend • Survey 2023
8. IDA only Capital
41.0%
IDA only • Survey 2023
9. IDA total Capital
41.0%
IDA total • Survey 2023
10. Baku
57.5%
Azerbaijan • Survey 2023
11. Dhaka
59.1%
Bangladesh • Survey 2023
12. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) Capital
64.3%
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) • Survey 2023
13. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) Capital
64.4%
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) • Survey 2023
14. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan Capital
65.6%
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan • Survey 2023
15. IDA & IBRD total Capital
68.4%
IDA & IBRD total • Survey 2023

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.