AGUACYCLE
East Asia & Pacific

Korea, Rep.

Capital: Seoul · High income · Pop. 51.8 million

99.28%
Safely managed drinking water
99.33%
Safely managed sanitation
1,255
m³ freshwater / person / yr
45%
Water stress · Medium

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

In Korea, Rep., 99.28% 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 372,608 people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 99.33% use safely managed sanitation services and 99.73% have at least a basic service (2024).

Korea, Rep. has about 1,255 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 59% of Korea, Rep.'s water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Korea, Rep. have safe drinking water?

99.28% of Korea, Rep.'s population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 372,608 people do not.

Does Korea, Rep. have enough freshwater?

Korea, Rep. has roughly 1,255 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 45% of it annually (medium stress).

Elsewhere in East Asia & Pacific