Can I Drink Tap Water in Angola?
Unsafe
Quick Answer
Tap water in Angola is unsafe to drink. Travelers should use sealed bottled water or properly boiled/disinfected water for drinking and brushing teeth.
Angola is an unsafe tap-water destination for travelers because water quality and access remain unreliable and cholera risk has been significant. World Bank 2024 estimates show about 68.0% of the population has basic drinking water access, while the same API currently does not provide a recent safely managed drinking water estimate for Angola. WHO outbreak reporting in 2025 reinforces the need for strict water precautions.
Water Quality Details
Angola has major water safety challenges linked to uneven infrastructure, rapid urban growth, sanitation gaps, and reliance on informal or intermittently supplied water sources in many communities. Although access has improved in some areas, the World Bank API (JMP-based indicators) still shows basic drinking water access at roughly 68.0% in 2024, and a recent safely managed estimate is not available in the same series, which limits confidence in safe-at-tap conditions. WHO Disease Outbreak News and WHO Africa reporting on cholera in Angola during 2025 support a high-risk classification for untreated water. Even in cities, contamination can occur during distribution and household storage.
Water sourceMixed sources
TreatmentChlorination, Filtration
HardnessModerate
TDS250 ppm
Taste rating1/5
Taste notesvariable and often poor taste · possible chlorine inconsistency · sediment risk from storage and distribution
Contaminant Data
Practical Tips
🧊 Avoid ice from tap
🪧 Use bottled for brushing
🍽 Avoid restaurant tap water
🔥 Boiling effective
💧 Filter recommended
- Drink only sealed bottled water from trusted vendors
- Use bottled or boiled water for brushing teeth
- Do not use tap water for ice unless purified water is confirmed
- Carry purification tablets or a portable filter as backup
- Avoid raw produce washed in local water
- Rehydrate early and seek care if diarrhea is severe
Bottled water~$0.8 USD (Common)
Recommended filtersReverse Osmosis, Ceramic, Gravity, Bottle Filter
Traveler Advice
Risk level: Very high
Diarrhea risk: Very high
Use bottled water consistently in Angola, including for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice. If you are traveling outside major urban centers, assume access may be inconsistent and carry backup treatment (boiling, chemical disinfection, or filtration). Start oral rehydration early for diarrhea and seek medical care quickly if symptoms are severe, prolonged, or accompanied by fever.
Travelers should not rely on acclimation in Angola. Water risk includes serious pathogens and outbreak-related contamination, not just minor stomach adaptation.
- Use only sealed bottled water from reliable brands
- Boil or disinfect water if bottled water is unavailable
- Use safe water for brushing teeth and oral hygiene
- Avoid ice in drinks unless purified water is confirmed
- Avoid raw foods washed with local water
- Carry oral rehydration salts and water treatment backup
- Seek medical care early for severe diarrhea or dehydration
Health Warnings
⚠ Health Warnings
- High risk of severe waterborne illness including cholera during outbreaks
- Unsafe storage and intermittent supply can contaminate otherwise treated water
- Young children are at high risk of dehydration complications
Sources & References
Government
Official Report
Official Report
Data confidence: Low
Last updated: 2026-02-23