Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are vital for living a dignified, healthy life.
Statistics can look stark. 1 in 5 people on the planet don't have a decent toilet of their own. 1 in 10 don't have clean water close to home.
But thanks to your incredible support, we’ve already reached millions of people in some of the toughest places in the world. We can’t stop there.
By working together, we can reach everyone, everywhere within a generation – and transform millions more lives for good.
771 million people don’t have clean water close to home.
771 million people don’t have clean water close to home.
WHO/UNICEF (2021) Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2020. Joint Monitoring Programme. Geneva: World Health Organisation.
1.7 billion people don't have a decent toilet of their own.
1.7 billion people don't have a decent toilet of their own.
WHO/UNICEF (2021) Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2020. Joint Monitoring Programme. Geneva: World Health Organisation.
Globally, 31% of schools do not have clean water and 37% lack decent toilets.
Globally, 31% of schools do not have clean water and 37% lack decent toilets.
WHO/UNICEF (2020) Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools. Joint Monitoring Programme. Geneva: World Health Organisation.
Around 290,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.
Around 290,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.
Prüss-Ustün A, et al. (2019). Burden of Disease from Inadequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Selected Adverse Health Outcomes: An Updated Analysis with a Focus on Lo
Every minute a newborn baby dies from infection caused by a lack of clean water and an unclean environment.
Every minute a newborn baby dies from infection caused by a lack of clean water and an unclean environment.
United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2019) Levels and trends in child mortality, 2020 Report. New York: UNICEF
Globally, 43% of schools do not have soap and water for handwashing.
Globally, 43% of schools do not have soap and water for handwashing.
WHO/UNICEF (2020) Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools. Joint Monitoring Programme. Geneva: World Health Organisation.
Every $1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of $4 in increased productivity.
Every $1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of $4 in increased productivity.
(WHO, 2012)
If everyone, everywhere could wash their hands with soap and water, it would reduce infection in an epidemic like COVID-19 by 20%.
If everyone, everywhere could wash their hands with soap and water, it would reduce infection in an epidemic like COVID-19 by 20%.
WaterAid. (2021) Mission-critical: Invest in water, sanitation and hygiene for a healthy and green economic recovery
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrhoeal deaths would be cut by 34%.
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrhoeal deaths would be cut by 34%.
Prüss-Ustün et al. (2014) Burden of disease from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene in low- and middle-income settings: a retrospective analysis of data from 145 co
Globally between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 we directly reached:
306,000 household members with clean water, 531,000 with decent toilets, and 2.5 million with good hygiene.
306,000 household members with clean water, 531,000 with decent toilets, and 2.5 million with good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2019)
143,000 school students with clean water, 131,000 with decent toilets, and 1.4 million with good hygiene.
143,000 school students with clean water, 131,000 with decent toilets, and 1.4 million with good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2021)
Through healthcare centres, 795,000 people gained access to clean water, 852,000 to decent toilets, and 10,003,000 to good hygiene.
Through healthcare centres, 795,000 people gained access to clean water, 852,000 to decent toilets, and 10,003,000 to good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2019)
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:
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convince governments to change laws;
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link policy makers with people on the ground;
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change attitudes and behaviours;
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pool knowledge and resources; and
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rally support from people and organisations around the world.
Through this work we benefit many more people than those shown above.