AGUACYCLE
South Asia

India

Capital: New Delhi · Lower middle income · Pop. 1.45 billion

76.44%
Safely managed drinking water
62.79%
Safely managed sanitation
1,014
m³ freshwater / person / yr
45%
Water stress · Medium

Source: World Bank Open Data (WHO/UNICEF JMP & FAO AQUASTAT) · drinking water 2024

In India, 76.44% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2024 estimate). That leaves roughly 341.8 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 62.79% use safely managed sanitation services and 83.38% have at least a basic service (2024).

India has about 1,014 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 45% of those internal resources annually (medium water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 90% of India's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in India have safe drinking water?

76.44% of India's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 341.8 million people do not.

Does India have enough freshwater?

India has roughly 1,014 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 45% of it annually (medium stress).

Elsewhere in South Asia