AGUACYCLE
Europe & Central Asia

Italy

Capital: Rome · High income · Pop. 59.0 million

96.76%
Safely managed drinking water
78.21%
Safely managed sanitation
3,093
m³ freshwater / person / yr
19%
Water stress · Low-medium

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

In Italy, 96.76% 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 1.9 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 78.21% use safely managed sanitation services and 99.88% have at least a basic service (2024).

Italy has about 3,093 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 19% of those internal resources annually (low-medium water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 50% of Italy's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Italy have safe drinking water?

96.76% of Italy's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 1.9 million people do not.

Does Italy have enough freshwater?

Italy has roughly 3,093 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 19% of it annually (low-medium stress).

Elsewhere in Europe & Central Asia