AGUACYCLE
Europe & Central Asia

United Kingdom

Capital: London · High income · Pop. 69.2 million

99.82%
Safely managed drinking water
97.84%
Safely managed sanitation
2,145
m³ freshwater / person / yr
6%
Water stress · Low

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

In United Kingdom, 99.82% 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 124,607 people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 97.84% use safely managed sanitation services and 99.1% have at least a basic service (2024).

United Kingdom has about 2,145 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 6% of those internal resources annually (low water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 14% of United Kingdom's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in United Kingdom have safe drinking water?

99.82% of United Kingdom's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 124,607 people do not.

Does United Kingdom have enough freshwater?

United Kingdom has roughly 2,145 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 6% of it annually (low stress).

Elsewhere in Europe & Central Asia