Which African Countries Have the Greatest Need for Clean-Water Wells?

When you are talking about “Which countries have the greatest need for clean water”, it really means two different, but related things: (1) some countries have very low access to at least basic drinking-water services, and/or (2) some countries have a large percentage of its population that do not have even basic access to water. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) tracks both factors and consistently shows that several countries in Central and Eastern Africa face the steepest gaps.

Where coverage is lowest

Countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic (CAR) rank among the lowest in Africa for access to at least basic drinking-water. Basic drinking-water is defined as an improved source within a 30-minute round trip. Conflict, a lack of infrastructure, long distances between rural settlements, and costly logistics all contribute to very low national coverage. Other countries with significant rural shortfalls—such as Chad, Madagascar, and Mozambique—struggle with arid or cyclone-prone climates, dispersed rural populations, a lack of funding for infrastructure, and long repair times when systems fail. For definitions and country snapshots, see the JMP’s overview of drinking-water service levels.

Where the numbers of unserved people are largest

Large-population countries can have midrange coverage but still count tens of millions without nearby safe water. Examples include Ethiopia, Nigeria, DRC, Tanzania, and Uganda. For an at-a-glance comparison by country and population, explore the SDG 6 data portal and breakdowns on SDG 6 Country Data and Our World in Data: Access to Safe Drinking Water.

How Uganda compares—and why you could make the case that it may have the greatest need

While Uganda’s national access is better than South Sudan, DRC, and CAR, it still trails neighboring countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. However, Uganda due to Uganda’s large and growing population and current political stability, Uganda falls squarely into the “high-impact” category for water and sanitation projects. This is because:

• Rural gaps remain wide. National averages mask large differences between towns and the countryside. In many districts, families still depend on distant or unsafe sources; well-sited boreholes shorten walks, cut queues, and reduce waterborne illness. See our overview of Water Facts for why reliable points matter in rural areas.
• Scale matters. Because Uganda’s rural population is large, the absolute number of people who can be reached by new wells is still very high—even if the national percentage looks better than in more fragile contexts. Country comparisons: JMP Data Explorer.

What “the greatest need” means for drilling strategy

For a drilling program like Drop in the Bucket, the highest-return countries and districts typically share four traits:

• Low rural coverage (many communities still beyond a 30-minute round trip to an improved source).
• Feasible logistics (rig mobilization, spare-parts supply chains, and local pump mechanics).
• Climate resilience (groundwater aquifers that hold up through droughts and floods).
• Local stewardship (user committees and technicians to keep points working).

Uganda checks these boxes: groundwater is present in many regions, logistics are workable, and stewardship models are established. That’s why additional borehole wells—with durable hand pumps, concrete aprons, and upgraded stainless-steel riser pipes—remain one of the most effective ways to expand safe water access, fast. See our Interventions for recent projects and results.

Learn more

• WHO/UNICEF JMP – Global monitoring for SDG 6
• SDG 6 Data Portal – Country dashboards and indicators
• Our World in Data – Access to Drinking Water
• Drop in the Bucket – Water Facts

Definitions: “Basic” = improved source within a 30-minute round trip (including queuing). “Safely managed” = improved source on premises, available when needed, and meeting quality standards. See JMP service-level definitions.