Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) vs United States: People using at least basic drinking water services, urban

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
86.5%
in 2024
United States
100.0%
in 2024
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank
39th
United States rank
38th

People using at least basic drinking water services, urban over time

  • Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
  • United States
020406080100200020122024

How they compare

United States currently reports 100.0% against 86.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), a difference of 13.5%.

That makes United States's figure about 1.2 times Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s.

Across all 25 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 39th and United States ranks 38th of 47 groups.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) United States Difference Ahead
2000s 78.3% 99.7% 21.4% United States
2010s 82.4% 99.8% 17.4% United States
2020s 85.7% 100.0% 14.3% United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people using at least basic drinking water services, urban, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) or United States?
United States, at 100.0% against 86.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) as of 2024.
What is the difference in people using at least basic drinking water services, urban between Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) and United States?
13.5%, with United States ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) and United States?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) and United States rank globally for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban?
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 39th and United States ranks 38th of 47 groups.
Where does this data come from?
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) vs United States: People using at least basic drinking water services, urban. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/people-using-at-least-basic-drinking-water-services-urban-percent-of-urban-population/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/united-states/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/people-using-at-least-basic-drinking-water-services-urban-percent-of-urban-population/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/united-states/">Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) vs United States: People using at least basic drinking water services, urban</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population)
Unit
% of urban population
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
231 places, 5,703 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of people using at least basic water services. This indicator encompasses both people using basic water services as well as those using safely managed water services. Basic drinking water services is defined as drinking water from an improved source, provided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a round trip. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water.