Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are vital for living a dignified, healthy life.
Statistics can look stark. More than one in five people on the planet don't have a decent toilet of their own. One 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 Joint Monitoring Programme 2021)
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 Joint Monitoring Programme 2021)
31% of schools don’t have clean water.
31% of schools don’t have clean water.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme 2020 Drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools; Global baseline report)
Every minute a newborn dies from infection caused by lack of safe water and an unclean environment.
Every minute a newborn dies from infection caused by lack of safe water and an unclean environment.
(WHO, 2015)
Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills one child under the age of five every two minutes.
Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills one child under the age of five every two minutes.
Based on Prüss-Ustün et al. (2014) and The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2018)
Around the world up to 443 million school days are lost every year because of water-related illnesses.
Around the world up to 443 million school days are lost every year because of water-related illnesses.
(Human Development Report, 2006)
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)
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, the number of diarrhoeal deaths would be cut by a third.
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrhoeal deaths would be cut by a third.
(Tropical Medicine and International Health, 2014)