Overview
- The assessment estimates 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, including 106 million relying on untreated surface sources.
- It reports 3.4 billion without safely managed sanitation, 354 million practicing open defecation, and 1.7 billion lacking basic hygiene at home.
- Since 2015, 961 million gained safely managed water, lifting global coverage from 68% to 74%, yet progress remains too slow for 2030.
- Rural access rose from 50% to 60% as urban gains stagnated, with the deepest gaps in low-income countries, fragile settings, and marginalized communities.
- Women and girls shoulder water collection and face menstrual hygiene constraints, with data from 70 countries showing many cannot change as often as needed.