29.3 M
Total population in the country


62 %
Population with access to safely managed and basic service sanitation

drinking water

89 %
Population with access to safely managed and basic service drinking water

child mortality

Diarrhea related under age 5 mortality rate number/1,000 live births

Drinking Water Results

47.2 K
People Gaining Access to Improved Drinking Water due to USG Assistance (FY 2008 - 2017)*

Sanitation Results

92.0 K
People Gaining Access to Improved Sanitation due to USG Assistance (FY 2008 - 2017)*

USAID Region


Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate instability, struggling with both water scarcity in some areas and increased flooding in others. Only 27 percent of the population has access to safely managed water, a slight (3 percent) improvement from 2000. Access to safely managed sanitation remains low throughout the country, though 62 percent of people have access to at least basic sanitation services.

Nepal’s geography includes lowland plateaus with abundant water resources, though they are often stressed during long dry spells in Kathmandu Valley when drinking water is limited. In addition, rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, increasing flooding and ultimately decreasing river flow and freshwater resources.

USAID works in rural communities to improve sanitation, promote hygiene behavior, increase access to safe drinking water, and improve local governance and maintenance of WASH facilities. USAID activities also aim to strengthen the resilience of certain communities in western Nepal to adapt to the negative effects of climate change through improved water resource management.

Source: USAID Development Experience Clearing House (DEC) and specific water activity websites.  The funding level and start/end date shown here reflect the information available via the DEC or activity website at the time the activity was added to Globalwaters.org

*Includes access to both basic and safely managed services