A new global report has revealed that unsafe drinking water across much of the Global South is driven not only by gaps in infrastructure but also by deep-rooted socioeconomic inequalities, leaving billions of people trapped in a cycle of deprivation and limited access to basic services.

The report, Water Quality: A Mirror and Magnifier of Structural Inequalities and Social Injustice by United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU‑INWEH), examined drinking water conditions across 138 countries and found that unsafe water is closely linked to poverty and gender inequality.

According to the study, 74 countries (54%) fail to meet basic drinking water safety standards, exposing millions to serious health risks. Even more striking, 84 countries (61%) face overlapping challenges of unsafe water, limited financial resources, and persistent gender inequality.

Together, these conditions affect roughly 2 billion people, nearly one-quarter of the population in the Global South.

Prof. Grace Oluwasanya, Senior Researcher on Water, Climate and Gender at UNU-INWEH, stated, “Unsafe water is often treated as a technical failure. But our findings show it is also a social failure. Water quality reflects who is protected by systems, and who is left to cope on their own.”

Moreover, the report identified a particularly vulnerable group of 41 countries where poor water quality, economic hardship, and gender disparities reinforce one another. In these nations, described as facing a “lose-lose-lose” scenario, limited financial capacity hinders investment in water systems while entrenched inequality places a disproportionate burden on women and girls, who are often responsible for securing water for households.

In contrast, only 54 countries fall into what researchers describe as a “win–win–win” category, where stronger economic capacity, improved water safety, and narrower gender gaps combine to create more sustainable outcomes. The disparity underscores the uneven progress across regions and highlights the role of governance and social equity in shaping water access.

Developing countries in Europe rank as the least vulnerable among those studied, followed by South America, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and Pacific Island nations, whiles Africa emerged as the most vulnerable region, reflecting a combination of weaker economic conditions, governance challenges, and wider gender inequality gaps.

The report also highlighted dramatic disparities in national capacity, with the International Wealth Index ranging from near-universal access levels in countries such as Mexico to extremely low levels in nations like South Sudan.

Calls Grow for Systemic Reform as Water Inequality Impacts Billions

The findings of the latest United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health report have intensified calls for a fundamental shift in how governments and international institutions address water security, with experts warning that current approaches risk leaving millions behind.

The study argues that reliance on infrastructure alone, such as pipelines and treatment plants, has proven insufficient in improving water quality outcomes in many countries. Instead, researchers emphasise the importance of sustained financial capacity, institutional strength, and inclusive governance systems that ensure equitable access for all segments of society.

“This report is a wake-up call that exposes the profound injustice in our global water systems. Water quality acts as both a mirror and a magnifier of inequalities. If we are serious about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing this triple threat of unsafe water, poverty, and gender exclusion is not just an ethical imperative, but a strategic necessity.”
Prof.Grace Oluwasanya

At the heart of the report’s recommendations is a call to move beyond GDP-focused frameworks when assessing national progress. While economic growth remains important, the study finds that wealth alone does not guarantee safe drinking water or equitable access. Even among relatively wealthier countries in the Global South, outcomes vary significantly depending on governance quality and the extent to which gender equality is embedded in policy decisions.

To address these disparities, the report advocates targeted international financing directed at the most vulnerable countries, particularly those caught in the “lose-lose-lose” cycle. It also calls for stronger regional cooperation to manage shared water resources and risks, as well as the integration of gender considerations into all levels of water governance.

“The message is clear: pipes and treatment plants matter, but they are not enough. Technology alone will not solve the water crisis. Without addressing inequality, water investments will continue to leave millions behind. Fixing water means fixing the systems that decide whose lives are valued.”
Prof.Grace Oluwasanya

With approximately 2 billion people affected by overlapping water, economic, and social challenges, the report warns that failure to act could entrench cycles of ill health, exclusion, and underdevelopment for generations.

As global attention increasingly turns to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the report positions water quality as both a critical indicator and a driver of broader social outcomes.