Japan vs South Korea: Safe drinking water
Safe drinking water in 2022: 98.7% in Japan and 99.3% in South Korea, by WHO/UNICEF estimates. In 2022 the value was higher in South Korea, by 0.6 percentage points, or 1.01 times that in Japan.
JapanSouth Korea
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 98.7 2022 | 98.2 | 36 of 135 |
| South Korea | 99.3 2022 | 98.1 | 27 of 135 |
| World | 72.9 2022 | 67.1 |
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2014, when it overtook Japan.
- In 2022, Japan ranked 36 and South Korea ranked 27 of 135 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 72.9% in 2022.
Every year
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Year | Japan | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98.7 | 99.3 | 72.9 |
| 2021 | 98.7 | 99.2 | 72.5 |
| 2020 | 98.6 | 99.1 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 99 | 71.7 |
| 2018 | 98.5 | 98.9 | 71 |
| 2017 | 98.5 | 98.8 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 98.7 | 69.7 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 98.6 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 98.3 | 98.4 | 68.4 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 98.3 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 98.2 | 98.1 | 67.1 |
| 2011 | 98.2 | 97.9 | 66.4 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 97.8 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 97.6 | 65.4 |
| 2008 | 98 | 97.4 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 98 | 97.3 | 64.6 |
| 2006 | 98 | 97.1 | 64 |
| 2005 | 97.9 | 97.1 | 63.7 |
| 2004 | 97.9 | 97.1 | 63 |
| 2003 | 97.9 | 97.1 | 62.4 |
| 2002 | 97.9 | 97.1 | 61.8 |
| 2001 | 97.9 | – | 61.1 |
| 2000 | 97.9 | – | 60.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people whose drinking water comes from an improved source at home, there when needed and free of contamination.
- Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 135 countries with a value in 2022, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time