Our Common Grounds

2030 goals / Goal 6

6

Clean Water and Sanitation

Safe water and toilets for every family

Progress in numbers

Latest figures available, mostly from the UN SDG Report 2026.

6.1.1People with safe drinking water at homeBehind
Target
100%by 2030
Start
68%2015
Latest
74%2024
19% of the way · 2.1 billion still withoutSourceHow it is measured
6.2.1People with safe toilets and sanitationBehind
Target
100%by 2030
Start
48%2015
Latest
58%2024
19% of the way · 3.4 billion still withoutSourceHow it is measured
6.3.1Household wastewater safely treatedBehind
Target
78%halve untreated by 2030
Start
56%2020
Latest
56%2024
0% of the way · No progress since 2020SourceHow it is measured
6.5.1Water management in place (score out of 100)Behind
Target
100by 2030
Start
492017
Latest
572023
16% of the way · Most countries part waySourceHow it is measured

Goals and targets

8 targets, each with the UN's own rating from the SDG Report 2026. Open one for a plain explanation and how it is measured.

1 moderate progress 2 marginal progress 3 stalled 2 not enough data

6.1Safe, affordable drinking water for everyone Marginal progress

Every household with reliable access to safe drinking water by 2030.

Measured by

  • Share of people using safely managed drinking water
Official wording and indicators
6.2Toilets and hygiene for everyone Moderate progress

Adequate sanitation and hygiene for all and an end to open defecation by 2030, with attention to the needs of women and girls.

Measured by

  • Share of people using safely managed sanitation
  • Share with handwashing facilities at home
Official wording and indicators
6.3Cleaner rivers and lakes Stalled

Cut pollution and dumping, halve untreated wastewater and greatly increase safe recycling and reuse by 2030.

Measured by

  • Share of wastewater safely treated
  • Share of water bodies with good water quality
Official wording and indicators
6.4Use water wisely Marginal progress

Use water far more efficiently and keep withdrawals within safe limits, so fewer people face shortages.

Measured by

  • Economic value per litre of water used
  • Water stress level
Official wording and indicators
6.5Manage water well at every level Stalled

Joined-up water management from local to national, including cooperation across borders.

Measured by

  • Water management score
  • Shared rivers covered by working agreements
Official wording and indicators
6.6Protect wetlands, rivers and aquifers Stalled

Protect and restore water ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. Due 2020.

Measured by

  • Change in the extent of water ecosystems over time
Official wording and indicators
6.aSupport poorer countries on water Not enough data

More international cooperation and practical support for water and sanitation programs.

Measured by

  • Water and sanitation aid as part of government spending plans
Official wording and indicators
6.bLocal people managing local water Not enough data

Support communities to have a real say in how their water and sanitation are run.

Measured by

  • Local areas with set rules for community involvement
Official wording and indicators

An Our Common Grounds scorecard. Data from the UN and its partner agencies. See this goal on the full scorecard.