Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are vital for living a dignified, healthy life.
Thanks to our incredible supporters, we’ve already reached millions of people with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene in some of the toughest places in the world. But we can’t stop there.
The statistics below are stark. We won't stop until everyone, everywhere has safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene.
Key Statistics
Every minute a newborn dies from infection caused by lack of clean water and an unclean environment.
Every minute a newborn dies from infection caused by lack of clean water and an unclean environment.
(WHO, 2015 & UNICEF 2019/20)
Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under five every two minutes.
Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under five every two minutes.
(WHO, 2023, Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene)
Basic water services alone could save women 77 million working days per year.
Basic water services alone could save women 77 million working days per year.
(Mission-critical Report, WaterAid, 2021)
If everyone, everywhere had a decent toilet of their own by 2040, a net benefit of US$86 billion could be generated per year.
If everyone, everywhere had a decent toilet of their own by 2040, a net benefit of US$86 billion could be generated per year.
(Mission-critical report, WaterAid, 2021)
293 million children worldwide go to a school that either has dirty water, or no water at all.
293 million children worldwide go to a school that either has dirty water, or no water at all.
(WHO/UNICEF, 2022, Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools)
Based on current rates, the world could face a 40% shortfall in freshwater by 2030.
Based on current rates, the world could face a 40% shortfall in freshwater by 2030.
(Global Commission on the Economics of Water, 2023, Turning the Tide: A call to collective action)
Worldwide, seven in ten women and adolescent girls are responsible collecting water when it is not at home.
Worldwide, seven in ten women and adolescent girls are responsible collecting water when it is not at home.
2023 JMP report
653 million people in the world lack a handwashing facility at home.
653 million people in the world lack a handwashing facility at home.
WHO/UNICEF (2023)
1.7 billion people don’t even have a basic water service at their healthcare facility.
1.7 billion people don’t even have a basic water service at their healthcare facility.
WHO/UNICEF (2024)
Globally between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 we directly reached:
685,000 household members with clean water, 967,000 with decent toilets, and 267,000 with good hygiene.
685,000 household members with clean water, 967,000 with decent toilets, and 267,000 with good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2024)
110,000 school students with clean water, 456,000 with decent toilets, and 136,000 with good hygiene.
110,000 school students with clean water, 456,000 with decent toilets, and 136,000 with good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2024)
Through healthcare centres, 767,000 people gained access to clean water, 1.2 million to decent toilets, and 941,000 to good hygiene.
Through healthcare centres, 767,000 people gained access to clean water, 1.2 million to decent toilets, and 941,000 to good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2024)
Numbers for households and schools = people who use these services every day. Numbers for healthcare facilities = the population each facility exists to serve, adjusted to reflect the scale of alternative / private provision.
People reached either through facilities or sustained promotion. Hygiene promotion numbers are estimates of people reached with hygiene promotion messages at least three times in a year through local marketing campaigns in communities, in schools and via local health services
The figures above refer to the people we directly reach through services delivered together with our partners. They only show part of our impact – to make lasting change happen on a massive scale, we also:
- convince governments to change laws;
- link policy makers with people on the ground;
- change attitudes and behaviours;
- pool knowledge and resources; and
- rally support from people and organisations around the world.
Through this work we benefit many more people than those shown above.
*WHO/UNICEF (2024). Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities2023
data update: special focus on primary health care. Available at: https://washdata.org/reports/jmp-2024-wash-hcf (accessed 04 Oct 2024).