<span name="style_bold">Objective: </span>this article aims to describe coverage of the diverse types of access to water for human consumption and adequate excreta disposal, as defined in the concepts of Improved Sources of Drinking Water and Improved Sanitation Facilities, and their relationship with basic health and development indicators, in order to do this 147 countries of the world. On the other hand, Costa Rica seeks to place on the global stage in 2008 in these areas <span name="style_bold">Method: </span>Data were obtained from documents published by the Joint Monitoring Program of World Health Organization and UNICEF. Then using the different types of access to water identified and considered official by the Joint Monitoring Program, linear correlation analysis was performed with a 95% confidence for this variable and the basic health and development indicators, with the purpose of determining association between the pairs of variables. Also, a ranking of the different types of access to Improved Sources of Drinking Water and for improved sanitation facilities were established. <span name="style_bold">Conclusions: </span>The results show that the variables of access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities total improved better explain the progress of nations in basic health indicators and development.The results show that the variables of access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities total improved better explain the progress of nations in basic health indicators and development.

Equity in water access; potable water; excreta disposal; health status indicator