271. Under the lower-growth scenario, the percentage of the population with safedrinking water in the 1on-income countries hrould increase from 3z per cent in L9g0Co only 42 per cent in 1990 and 47 per cent in 2000, and ln the least developedcountries Che percentage ldould increase only from Ag to 35 per cent (seetable 43). In the upper-income oll-importing countries it would increase from67 per cent in 1980 to only 72 per cent in 1990 and 73 per cent ln the year ZOO0.Under the higher grorrth scenario, j.n contrast, the low_income countries rrould makegreater progress, reaching 53 per cent in the year ZOO0, because of their rapidincrease in total invest.ment. rn the upper-income countries, bigher {rowth wouldlraise the service coverage for eater about 4 per cent above the levels projectedlfor the year 2000 with lower growth. The projections for the group ofoil-exporting countries may seeo surprisingl-y rotr in relation to their recent andprojected tevels of per capita investment, but they are a result of several otherfactors' incrudlng low levers of coverage in 1980, high rates of populatlon grotrthand low levels of urbanization. 272. Tbe significance of urbanization may be seen by comparing the levels ofservice in the urban and rural areas ln 1980. The average percentage served in theurban areas of the developi.ng market economy countries togelher was 21 per cent, compared with 32 per cen! in the rural areaa. The percentage served in che urbanareas r.ra s quite slmilar among different groups of countries, averaging between 58 and 80 per cent, excep! in the least developed countri.es. where only 4i per cen!of the urban population bad safe irater. The percentages of population wj.th safewater in the rural areas di€fer more among the country groups, approximately inrelaeion to their differences in per capita i.ncome. t^/ 40/5L9 EngIi sb Page L22 Table 43. Percentage of in developing 1980-2000 g,/popula tlon itith countrles rrithsafe alrlnklng water narket economl es t Country group Urban Rural Tota I1980 b/ 2000 c/ I-oirer Bigher OiI-exporting Oi 1-importing Upper-income Iow-income Least developed Total, oi l-expor ling and oil--i.mporting68.3 30. 344.8 sl.8 52, .4 57.8 6L,2 79.8 68 .6 46 .7 70.848.9 27 .r 24.2 32.266 .9 36.9 44.67L.9 41.9 31.1 50.072.7 4 3.0 32.7 51.077.6 47.4 5). Z 55.681.4 52.6 43 .5 50.r Source: Department of International Economic 6nd Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretar iat. // The percentages for each group are the average of the percentages for each ;ountry in the group, welghted by the countryrs population (in the year co which the percentage applies). ,V Based on country figures in docunents A/35/367. annex v, and A/ 40 /LO8-E/!985/49, annex II. g/ Projections based on lower-grooth and higher-grorrth scenarios (see para. 27I) . 273. The outlook for lmproveoents in sanitation is generally similar Eo the outlook
**Analysis**
The text discusses the progress of safe drinking water access in different countries, with a focus on the least developed and oil-exporting countries. It also mentions the impact of urbanization and economic growth on access to safe drinking water. The text is more focused on the social and economic aspects of the issue, rather than the natural resources or environmental aspects.

**Category**
Health, Economic development