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Agenda 2030

Sustainable development goals
6

Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Key Targets
  • 1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
  • 2 Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.
  • 3 Improve water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating dumping.
  • 4 Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.
  • 5 Implement integrated water resources management at all levels.
Key Facts
2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water.
3.6 billion people lack safely managed sanitation.
80% of wastewater flows back into the ecosystem without treatment.
Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the world's population.
Global Progress

Access to basic water and sanitation has improved significantly over two decades. But SDG 6 demands a much higher standard — safely managed water and sanitation — and on that measure, billions of people are still excluded, particularly in rural Africa and South Asia.

What We've Accomplished

  • 2.1 billion people gained access to safe drinking water between 2000 and 2022.
  • Open defecation was halved — from 21% of the world's population in 2000 to 9% in 2022.
  • 2.4 billion people gained basic sanitation access since 2000.
  • Singapore turned a water-scarce island into a global leader in water recycling and desalination.
  • Over 100 countries have integrated water resources management plans in place.

2030 Outlook

At Risk

2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water and 3.6 billion lack safely managed sanitation. Progress is highest in urban areas but virtually stalled in remote rural communities. Climate change is intensifying droughts and floods, putting existing infrastructure under increasing stress. The UN projects a 40% global freshwater supply shortfall by 2030 if current trends continue.

Leading Nations

Iceland 100% of population has safely managed water, powered by natural geothermal and glacial sources.
Norway Universal safe water and sanitation access with world-class wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Finland Consistently ranks highest in water security and treatment standards across the EU.
Singapore Turned a water-scarce city-state into a global model through NEWater recycling and desalination.
Denmark Near-zero drinking water contamination rates and strict nationwide groundwater protection policies.