Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a developing county located on the Indochina Peninsula. The 13th most populated country in the world; it has made substantial strides toward Millennium Development Goal, or MDG, target 7c. A summary of statistical data on Vietnam can be seen in table 1.
MDG target 7c aims at ensuring environmental sustainability, specifically halving the proportion of the population without improved drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. Improved drinking water is defined by the type of technology and level of service more likely to provide safe drinking water. Sources include in domestic connections, public standpipes, protected wells and springs, and rainwater collection. Unimproved sources would include unprotected wells and springs as well as vendor and tanker truck provided water. To ensure sustainability the withdrawal should not exceed what is available which includes sound supply and management practices.
Currently access to improved water sources and sanitation in Vietnam is fairly good and the MDG has already been reached. Currently 94% of the population has access to improved water sources and 75% has access to basic sanitation. Compared to 58% and 35% respectively in 1990, both sectors currently comply with the MDG. The largest improvements have been in in rural areas though this may be due to both urban migration and the large margin for improvement. This is not to overshadow urban progress as it has been substantial as well. These figures as well as others can be seen in table 2. The progress of improvement from 1990 to 2008 can also be seen in the drinking water ladder, figure 1.
Vietnam | |
Location | Southeast Asia |
Bordering Nations | China, Laos, and Cambodia |
Area | 310,070 sq mi |
Population | |
Population | 90.55 million |
Population Growth Rate | 1.077 |
Urban Population | 30.00% |
Infant Mortality Rate | 20.9 deaths / 1000 live births |
Life Expectancy | 72.2 yrs |
Total Fertility Rate | 1.91 children per woman |
Literacy Rate | 94.00% |
Economy | |
GDP (PPP) | $276.6 billion |
GDP Ranking | 42 |
GDP by Sector | |
Agriculture | 20.6% |
Industry | 41.1% |
Services | 38.3% |
Labor Force by Sector | |
Agriculture | 53.9% |
Industry | 20.3% |
Services | 25.8% |
Unemployment Rate | 4.4% |
Population Below Poverty Line | 10.60% |
Table 1. Country Profile | |
Water and Sanitation | |
Renewable Water Resources | 891.2 cu km |
Freshwater Withdrawl | 71.39 cu km |
Freshwater Withdrawl per Capita | 847 cu m |
Freshwater Usage | |
Domestic | 8.0% |
Industry | 24.0% |
Agricultre | 68.0% |
Improved Drinking Water 2008 | |
Urban | 99.0% |
Rural | 92.0% |
Total | 94.0% |
Improved Drinking Water 1990 | |
Urban | 88.00% |
Rural | 51.00% |
Total | 58.00% |
Improved Sanitation 2008 | |
Urban | 94.0% |
Rural | 67.0% |
Total | 75.0% |
Improved Sanitation 1990 | |
Urban | 61.0% |
Rural | 29.0% |
Total | 35.0% |
Table 2. Water and Sanitation Data | |
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| Figure 1. Vietnam Water & Sanitation Ladder |
