AGUACYCLE
East Asia & Pacific

Japan

Capital: Tokyo · High income · Pop. 124.0 million

98.73%
Safely managed drinking water
99.19%
Safely managed sanitation
3,437
m³ freshwater / person / yr
19%
Water stress · Low-medium

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

In Japan, 98.73% 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 1.6 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 99.19% use safely managed sanitation services and 99.94% have at least a basic service (2024).

Japan has about 3,437 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 67% of Japan's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Japan have safe drinking water?

98.73% of Japan's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 1.6 million people do not.

Does Japan have enough freshwater?

Japan has roughly 3,437 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 19% of it annually (low-medium stress).

Elsewhere in East Asia & Pacific