Global coverage of safe drinking water increased from 77 per cent in 1990 to 87 per cent in 2008, with the East Asia and Pacific region showing the biggest improvement. Still, only 84 per cent of the population in the developing world uses improved drinking water sources, compared to 100 per cent of the population in industrialized countries. Coverage is lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, where only three out of five people use improved drinking water sources.¹

Within the developing world, the disparity between urban and rural areas is marked. There are still 884 million people who lack access to improved drinking water sources, and 84 per cent of them live in rural areas. Of the 1.8 billion people who have gained access to improved drinking water sources since 1990, 60 per cent live in urban areas.

The largest urban-rural disparities are found in sub-Saharan Africa, where drought is a problem for many countries and where many rural areas are sparsely populated. In 17 countries, less than half the rural population uses improved drinking water sources.

Disparities within urban areas are also important, however. In many countries, the poorest 20 per cent of people living in urban areas have significantly lower access to improved drinking water sources than the richest 20 per cent.

¹ Improved drinking water sources include public tap or standpipe, tube well or borehole, protected dug well, protected spring, rainwater or piped drinking water supply into dwelling, plot, yard or neighbour’s yard.