2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water at home (WHO, 2025). Without clean water, basic health, hygiene, and dignity are at risk.

3.4 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services (WHO, 2025). Unsafe sanitation spreads disease, especially in crowded or poor areas.

1.7 billion people lack basic hygiene services like handwashing with soap (WHO, 2025). This increases the risk of infections like diarrhea and respiratory illness.

Causes: poverty, weak infrastructure, climate change, conflict, rural/urban inequality.

Sub-Saharan Africa: More than half of people lack safe drinking water.

South Asia: Rural households are still twice as likely as urban ones to lack sanitation.

Conflict Areas: Refugee camps and war-torn regions face severe shortages.

Rural vs Urban: Globally, people in rural areas are 2x more likely to lack safe water than those in cities.

354 million people still practice open defecation (WHO, 2025).Leads to cholera, typhoid, and other deadly outbreaks.

400,000+ children under age 5 die each year from waterborne diseases (UNICEF). That’s over 1,000 children every day.

Women and girls spend 200 million hours daily worldwide collecting water (UNICEF).Time lost to education and work opportunities.Without sanitation, schools often cannot keep girls enrolled, especially during menstruation.

Health Impact: Cholera, dysentery, diarrhea leading causes of child mortality.

Social Impact: Children miss school; families spend hours fetching water.

Gender Inequality: Women/girls have the heaviest burden.

Economic Impact: Unsafe water and sanitation cost low-income countries billions each year in healthcare and lost productivity.

Water.org

Provides microloans so families can install water taps and toilets.

Reached 81+ million people with clean water and sanitation solutions.

WaterAid

Works in 30+ countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America.

Builds toilets, safe water systems, and hygiene education.

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)

Partnership of governments and NGOs to reach Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water for all by 2030).

Build and maintain infrastructure- pipes, wells, filtration systems.

Expand low-cost sanitation- eco-toilets, local water tech.

Educate communities about hygiene practices.

Increase global investment and government accountability.

WHO & UNICEF. Progress on Household Drinking-Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2000-2024: Special Focus on Inequalities. World Health Organization, 2025.

UNICEF. “1 in 4 Worldwide Still Lack Access to Safe Drinking Water.” UNICEF, Aug 2025.

Water.org. Our Impact. https://water.org

WaterAid. What We Do. https://wateraid.org