Drinking Water in Rural Areas of The Arab World
In the previous decades, particularly in the second half of the twentieth century, rural development has held a significant and high-priority position for governing authorities in Arab countries. This is because rural areas are primarily responsible for achieving food security for the nation and supplying urban centers with industrial and trade goods.
The issue of providing drinking water directly to rural households has been a fundamental concern under the desired development. Many Arab countries have made significant strides in delivering essential water services to rural areas, with some nations considering the matter resolved. For instance, in Saudi Arabia, for over 25 years, the percentage of the rural population using basic drinking water services has been 100%. However, this remains a fundamental issue being addressed in other Arab countries to this day.
Swift Progress Indicators
Some countries recorded low numbers in providing drinking water services at the end of the last millennium but managed to make relatively advanced progress in this issue. Continuous upward indicators suggest ongoing efforts without complete resolution. Examples include Iraq, which transitioned from 54.04% in the year 2000 to 94.83% in 2022, and Tunisia, which progressed from 72.46% to 93.42% over 22 years.
Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, rural (Iraq -Tunisia, 2000–2022)
Rural Deprivation of Drinking Water
Even today, a significant segment of rural populations in some Arab countries struggles to access basic drinking water services. Despite efforts to mitigate this issue over the past two decades, indicators suggest that the crisis remains a substantial problem with a direct impact on development. In Somalia, as of 2022, only 38.65% of its rural areas have access to drinking water services, compared to 5.69% in the year 2000. In Yemen, about half of the rural population currently lacks access to drinking water services in their homes. In Morocco, around 35% of rural residents still do not have access to such services.
Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, rural (Somalia- Yemen- Morocco, 2000–2022)
Slow Progress in Egypt and Jordan
Despite being in advanced positions compared to many other Arab countries in providing primary drinking water services to rural areas, both Egypt and Jordan, over the past 22 years, have not made a clear breakthrough in this regard. The progress rate in Jordan is no more than 0.26%, and in Egypt, it is 1.01%.
Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, rural (Jordan/Egypt, 2000–2022)
The disparity in the proportion of rural populations in Arab countries that achieve water security reflects disparities in levels of development, which in turn affect various issues related to health, education and culture. Given that access to drinking water is one of the most basic requirements for human settlements, its availability often determines the availability of everything else.
Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, rural (Arab countries, 2000–2022)
