# What percentage of the worlds population does not have running water in their homes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-the-worlds-population-does-not-have-running-water-in-their-homes/187464>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 10, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-the-worlds-population-does-not-have-running-water-in-their-homes/187464 "2003-07-10T14:12:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![naomi2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@naomi2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naomi2003)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-the-worlds-population-does-not-have-running-water-in-their-homes/187464/1 "2003-07-10T14:12:17Z")

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Well, the question just about covers it I think.

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**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-the-worlds-population-does-not-have-running-water-in-their-homes/187464/2 "2003-07-10T14:36:47Z")

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Quick and dirty first estimate:  
The World Bank [says](http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20040985~menuPK:34480~pagePK:34370~theSitePK:4607,00.html):

> [@](#):
>
> There are still about 1 billion people without an adequate supply of drinking water, and about 2 billion people without adequate sanitation services.

: Population’s around 6 375 000 000. I’m guessing that the answer to your question lies between the numbers, probably rather closer to the second. So about 25%.

Welcome to the Boards, **naomi2003**. I expect someone will give you a better answer shortly, but it’s bedtime.