Malaysia vs South Africa: Share of people practicing open defecation

Malaysia
0.3%
in 2016
South Africa
0.3%
in 2024
Malaysia rank
97th
South Africa rank
99th

Share of people practicing open defecation over time

  • Malaysia
  • South Africa
02.557.51012.5200020122024

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 0.3% against 0.3% in South Africa, a difference of 0.0%.

That makes Malaysia's figure about 1.3 times South Africa's.

Across all 17 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Malaysia ranks 97th and South Africa ranks 99th of 232 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 1.1% 8.8% 7.7% South Africa
2010s 0.4% 4.3% 3.9% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher share of people practicing open defecation, Malaysia or South Africa?
Malaysia, at 0.3% against 0.3% in South Africa as of 2016.
What is the difference in share of people practicing open defecation between Malaysia and South Africa?
0.0%, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
17 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2016.
How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for share of people practicing open defecation?
Malaysia ranks 97th and South Africa ranks 99th of 232 countries.
Where does this data come from?
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of people practicing open defecation. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malaysia vs South Africa: Share of people practicing open defecation. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/compare/people-practicing-open-defecation-of-population/malaysia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of people practicing open defecation
Unit
%
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,488 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Share of people who practice open defecation. This includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.