Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are vital for living a dignified, healthy life.
Statistics can look stark. More than 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.
703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.
703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2023)
1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – do not have a decent toilet.
1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – do not have a decent toilet.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2023)
Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home.
Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2023)
Globally, 29% of schools don’t have clean water and 28% lack decent toilets.
Globally, 29% of schools don’t have clean water and 28% lack decent toilets.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2022)
1 in 5 healthcare facilities lack basic water services and 1 in 10 have no sanitation services.
1 in 5 healthcare facilities lack basic water services and 1 in 10 have no sanitation services.
(WHO/UNICEF, Progress on WASH in health care facilities, 2023)
Living without safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services contributes to 1.6 million deaths from preventable diseases each year.
Living without safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services contributes to 1.6 million deaths from preventable diseases each year.
(WaterAid, 2021)
Investment in universal basic drinking water can yield up to US $32 billion annually and investment in basic hygiene can yield US $45 billion annually.
Investment in universal basic drinking water can yield up to US $32 billion annually and investment in basic hygiene can yield US $45 billion annually.
(WaterAid/Vivid Economics 2021)
The World Bank says promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost-effective health interventions.
The World Bank says promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost-effective health interventions.
(Disease Control Priorities, third edition (volume 2), 2016)
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, 297 000 diarrheal deaths would be prevented for children aged under 5 years each year.
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, 297 000 diarrheal deaths would be prevented for children aged under 5 years each year.
(WHO, 2022)
In 2022 to 2023, we reached 2,761,000 people with clean water, 1,876,000 people with decent toilets and 4,709,000 people with good hygiene.
In 2022 to 2023, we reached 2,761,000 people with clean water, 1,876,000 people with decent toilets and 4,709,000 people with good hygiene.
(WaterAid, 2023)
In 2021-22 we helped secure changes to 14 national policies, strategies or standards to benefit people living without clean water, decent toilets or good hygiene.
In 2021-22 we helped secure changes to 14 national policies, strategies or standards to benefit people living without clean water, decent toilets or good hygiene.
(WaterAid UK, 2022)
Since 1981 we've reached 28.5 million people with clean water and 29 million with decent toilets.
Since 1981 we've reached 28.5 million people with clean water and 29 million with decent toilets.
(WaterAid UK, 2022)
