World Forgotten Children Foudation

1 in 4 People Globally Still Lack Access to Safe Drinking Water

By World Forgotten Children Foundation on Sep 5, 2025

Access to clean, safe drinking water remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. According to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), released during World Water Week 2025, 1 in 4 people worldwide (2.1 billion individuals) still lack access to safely managed drinking water. Despite progress over the past decade, billions remain without basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services, leaving the most vulnerable communities at risk of disease, exclusion, and poverty.

A Stark Reminder From World Water Week 2025

The report, Progress on Household Drinking Water and Sanitation 2000–2024: Special Focus on Inequalities, reveals that children, rural populations, people in low-income and fragile countries, and minority ethnic or indigenous groups face the largest disparities. These inequalities mean that safe water and sanitation, which are basic human rights, are still out of reach for far too many.

As the world enters the final five years of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) period, the report warns that achieving universal coverage for safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030 is increasingly unlikely without urgent action.

Water Facts: A Global Snapshot

(Source: United Nations)

2.2 billion people (1 in 4) still live without safely managed drinking water, including 115 million who drink surface water.
3.5 billion people (4 in 10) live without safely managed sanitation, including 419 million who practice open defecation.
2 billion people lack basic hygiene services, including 653 million with no facility at all.
Around 1,000 children under five die every day due to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene.
In conflict zones, children under 15 are three times more likely to die from diarrheal disease caused by unsafe water than from direct violence.
70% of all disaster-related deaths are linked to water-related disasters.
Since 2000, flood-related disasters have increased by 134%.
Glaciers lost 600+ gigatons of water in 2023, the largest decline in 50 years.
Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is useable freshwater.
To meet SDG 6 by 2030, global progress must increase 6x for drinking water, 5x for sanitation, and 3x for hygiene.
72% of freshwater is used for agriculture, 16% by industries, and 12% by municipalities.
Global water demand is projected to rise by 20–30% by 2050.
Producing one person’s daily food requires 2,000–5,000 liters of water—and food demand is expected to rise by 50% by 2050.
Only 27% of industrial wastewater and 58% of household wastewater are safely treated.
Just 56% of monitored water bodies meet good quality standards.
Every US$1 invested in water and sanitation yields US$4.30 in economic return.
Despite growing needs, aid for water and sanitation decreased by 5% between 2015 and 2022.
Meeting SDG 6 requires $1 trillion annually in global investment.

Water Inequality Is a Children’s Rights Issue

The consequences of unsafe or unreliable water fall heaviest on children. Without clean water, they are more likely to contract preventable diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. Illness keeps them out of school, reduces their chances of long-term health, and traps families in cycles of poverty.

Girls are particularly disadvantaged. When tasked with long daily walks to fetch water, their education suffers, and they face greater risks to their safety. During menstruation, a lack of privacy and resources often forces adolescent girls to miss school entirely, creating long-term educational and social setbacks.

World Forgotten Children Foundation’s Ongoing Commitment

We at World Forgotten Children Foundation (WFCF) know firsthand how access to safe water transforms lives. Our solar-powered water projects in regions such as Zimba, Africa, not only reduce the time families spend collecting water but also improve sanitation, support food production, and promote healthier communities. These initiatives are especially vital for children living with disabilities, who face even greater health risks when clean water is unavailable.

The new WHO/UNICEF findings underscore why WFCF continues to invest in sustainable, community-driven water solutions. Water access is more than a health issue; it is a cornerstone of dignity, equality, and opportunity for children and families in need.

How You Can Help

The road to universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene requires urgent, collective action. You can make a difference by:

supporting sustainable water projects like those funded by WFCF;
raising awareness about the global water crisis and its impact on vulnerable groups; and
donating to organizations prioritizing clean water and sanitation.

Looking Ahead

Water is life. Yet for 2.1 billion people, it remains a daily struggle. At WFCF, we believe that every child deserves not only medical care but also the basic resources like clean water that make survival and growth possible.