AGUACYCLE
East Asia & Pacific

New Zealand

Capital: Wellington · High income · Pop. 5.3 million

100%
Safely managed drinking water
88.8%
Safely managed sanitation
64,349
m³ freshwater / person / yr
3%
Water stress · Low

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

In New Zealand, 100% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2024 estimate).

Sanitation tracks closely: 88.8% use safely managed sanitation services and 100% have at least a basic service (2024).

New Zealand has about 64,349 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 3% of those internal resources annually (low water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 65% of New Zealand's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in New Zealand have safe drinking water?

100% of New Zealand's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data.

Does New Zealand have enough freshwater?

New Zealand has roughly 64,349 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 3% of it annually (low stress).

Elsewhere in East Asia & Pacific