Current status and trends

In 2008, 87 percent of the world’s population uses drinking water from improved sources: 57 percent use piped connections in their dwelling, plot or yard; and the remaining 30 percent use “other improved drinking water sources”.

This translates into 5.9 billion people worldwide using drinking water from an improved source – an increase of 1.8 billion since 1990 – including about 3.8 billion people with a piped connection that provides running water in or near to their homes.

Coverage estimates for 2008 suggest that the population reliant on unimproved drinking water sources fell below one billion – to 884 million – following rapid coverage gains in Eastern Asia, particularly in China. 
 
Improved drinking water coverage in sub-Saharan Africa is still considerably lower than in other regions. Nevertheless, coverage has increased from 49 percent in 1990 to 60 percent in 2008, which means that an additional 238 million sub-Saharan Africans are now using safe drinking water.

Proportion of the world’s population using a piped drinking water connection, another improved drinking water source or an unimproved source, 2008
 

            In 2008, 87 per cent of the world’s population used
                              improved drinking water sources
                                                                                                      
                             
                  

Trends in use of drinking water sources, 1990-2008

Source: WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation, 2010.

Urban-rural disparities in drinking water coverage

84 percent of those without an improved drinking water source live in rural areas. Here drinking water coverage has increased from 64 percent in 1990 to 78 percent in 2008. An estimated 743 million rural dwellers are without improved drinking water supplies, compared to 141 million urban residents.

Urban drinking water coverage has remained high throughout the past 20 years and currently is 96 percent. The world has barely kept up though with the urban population growth.96% in 2008. Since 1990, 1,051 million people in urban areas have gained access to improved drinking water sources. However, in the same period, the world’s urban population rose by 1,090 million people; resulting in a net 39 million increase in the urban population that rely on unimproved drinking water sources, most of whom live in the cities and towns of the developing world.

The world is on track to meet the drinking water target

Current trends suggest that more than 90 percent of the global population will use improved drinking water sources by 2015. Eighty-seven percent of the world’s population now uses improved drinking water sources, compared to 77 percent in 1990. Gains were made in all regions. Eastern Asia stands out for increasing its drinking water coverage by 20 percent, which means that 437 million people have gained access to improved water sources since 1990.
 
Population forecasts suggest that an additional 632 million people will need to gain access to improved sources to meet the MDG drinking water target. Accelerated progress is needed in sub-Saharan Africa, home to 37% of those without improved drinking water sources.

Regional and global progress towards the MDG sanitation target

References

Progress on sanitation and drinking water - 2010 update, WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, 2010