WHO Warns 2.1 Billion Still Lack Safe Water as 2030 Sanitation Targets Slip
Updated
Updated · Smart Water Magazine · May 13
WHO Warns 2.1 Billion Still Lack Safe Water as 2030 Sanitation Targets Slip
3 articles · Updated · Smart Water Magazine · May 13
2.1 billion people still lacked safely managed drinking water in 2024, even after global coverage rose to 74% from 68% in 2015, leaving the world off track for universal access by 2030.
WHO said progress has been slow and uneven across water, sanitation and hygiene: safely managed sanitation reached 58% but still left 3.4 billion without service, while basic hygiene rose to 80% with 1.7 billion still lacking facilities.
Rural areas posted faster gains than cities over the decade, yet continued to trail urban access levels, and safe household wastewater treatment barely moved from 56% in 2020 to 58% in 2024.
US$11.0 billion in 2024 aid commitments masked a shift away from core water supply and sanitation, with those commitments falling 6.7% even as overall water-sector funding increased.
1.4 million deaths in 2019 could have been averted with adequate WASH services, WHO said, adding that none of the global health SDG indicators with numeric targets is currently on track for 2030.
Public aid for water is falling. Can a booming private market deliver sanitation to the billions of people left behind?
As climate change intensifies droughts, are we building resilient water systems or just infrastructure on borrowed time?
Global WASH Crisis 2025: Billions Left Behind as SDG 6 Deadline Approaches
Overview
The JMP 2025 report, released by WHO and UNICEF at World Water Week 2025, reveals that billions of people still lack access to essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. This ongoing deficit leaves large populations vulnerable to preventable diseases, undermines public health efforts, and deepens social inequalities. Despite global commitments, the world is falling critically behind on the targets set by Sustainable Development Goal 6 for 2030. The report highlights the urgent need for accelerated action to address these challenges and ensure universal WASH access.