A United Nations report released on August 26, 2025, highlights a critical global challenge: the persistent lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation services for billions worldwide. The report indicates that approximately a quarter of the global population, over 2.1 billion people, still lack access to safely managed drinking water. Of these, 106 million people rely on untreated surface water sources, posing significant health risks and impeding global development. The findings suggest the world is critically falling short of its 2030 target for universal access to these essential services.
Rodger Kirsch, head of the Environment Department at the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized that water, sanitation, and hygiene are fundamental human rights, not luxuries. He stressed the urgent need to accelerate progress, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. The report categorizes water services into five levels, noting that 106 million people still depend on untreated surface water. Since 2015, 961 million people have gained access to safely managed drinking water, increasing global coverage from 68% to 74%. However, 2.1 billion people still lack these essential services.
The number of countries that have eliminated the use of surface water for drinking has risen to 154. While 89 countries have achieved universal access to basic drinking water services, only 31 have reached universal access to safely managed services. Alarmingly, 28 countries, predominantly in Africa, still have over a quarter of their population deprived of basic drinking water. In sanitation, 1.2 billion people have gained access to safely managed services since 2015, with coverage increasing from 48% to 58%. Despite this progress, 3.4 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation, and 354 million practice open defecation.
Cecilia Sharpe, director of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene at UNICEF, highlighted the profound impact on children, stating that access to safe water and sanitation is crucial for their health, education, and future prospects. She pointed out the disproportionate burden on girls, who often collect water and face additional risks. The report also reveals significant disparities, with people in least developed countries being more than twice as likely to lack basic drinking water and sanitation services, and those in fragile contexts facing considerable disadvantages. While improvements have been noted in rural areas, they continue to lag behind urban areas where coverage has stagnated.
The United Nations World Water Forum is scheduled to take place in the UAE from December 2-4, 2026. This event aims to foster global cooperation and accelerate action towards achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation by the 2030 deadline. The urgency of the situation necessitates intensified global efforts and strategic investments to ensure these basic human rights are met for all.