People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: People using safely managed drinking water services, urban was 52.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
In 2024, people using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 52.8%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 52.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 42.4%, in 2001.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 25th out of 29 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 42.5% | — |
| 2001 | 42.4% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 42.7% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 42.9% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 43.3% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 43.7% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 44.2% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 44.6% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 45.1% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 45.6% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 46.2% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 47.2% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 47.8% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 48.5% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 49.2% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 50.0% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 50.6% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 51.4% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 52.2% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 52.7% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 52.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 52.7% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 52.7% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 52.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.7% | 42.4% | 45.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.0% | 46.2% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.7% | 52.7% | 52.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa was 52.8% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest people using safely managed drinking water services, urban recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using safely managed drinking water services, urban recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.4% in 2001.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for people using safely managed drinking water services, urban?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 25th out of 29 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people using safely managed drinking water services, urban rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using safely managed drinking water services, urban (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people using drinking water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water.