87% of Cambodia's population now has access to basic drinking water

Phnom Penh (The Uttam Hindu): Eighty-seven percent of Cambodia’s 17 million people now have access to basic drinking water while 21 percent have access to safely managed drinking water, according to a government official. Chreay Pom, Director General of Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Rural Development, shared these figures during a meeting focused on clean water and sanitation in rural areas.

Regarding sanitation the country is making significant strides. By 2024, approximately 92 percent of the population is expected to have access to basic sanitation, with 51 percent benefiting from safely managed sanitation. The ministry also highlighted that 14 out of Cambodia’s 25 provinces have achieved Open Defecation-Free status.Chhay Rithisen, the Minister of Rural Development, announced that seven more provinces are expected to be declared free of open defecation by the end of 2025. The government has set an ambitious goal to ensure universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030, aiming for a sustainable environment for all Cambodians.