Frequently asked questions
Around the world, 1 in 10 people don’t have clean water close to home. Those living without this everyday essential do not have an equal chance to be healthy, educated and financially secure.
A shocking one in four people don't have a decent toilet of their own. Slowly, we're making progress - since the year 2000, 2.1 billion people have gained access to decent toilets.
Good hygiene behaviour is integral to keeping people clean and healthy and stopping the spread of disease, yet only 1% of funding for water, sanitation and health is spent on changing hygiene habits.
At WaterAid, we recognise the importance of good hygiene practice and incorporate it into all of our work.
Please note: all statistics on the WaterAid website are from WASHwatch, unless otherwise stated.
785 million people don’t have clean water close to home.
785 million people don’t have clean water close to home.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2019)
2 billion people don't have a decent toilet of their own.
2 billion people don't have a decent toilet of their own.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2019)
31% of schools don’t have clean water.
31% of schools don’t have clean water.
(JMP (2018) 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 a child under 5 every 2 minutes.
Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under 5 every 2 minutes.
(WASHWatch.org)
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)
We’ve reached 27 million people with clean water so far. But we can’t stop there.
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