Share of people practicing open defecation in Benin
Benin: Share of people practicing open defecation was 47.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Benin, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of people practicing open defecation in Benin stood at 47.0%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Benin peaked at 68.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 47.0%, in 2024.
Benin ranks 5th of 232 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of people practicing open defecation in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 68.2% | — |
| 2001 | 67.3% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 66.4% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 63.6% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 62.7% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 61.8% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 60.9% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 60.0% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 59.1% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 58.2% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 57.3% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 56.4% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 55.5% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 54.7% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 53.8% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 52.9% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 52.1% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 51.2% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 50.4% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 49.5% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 48.7% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 47.9% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 47.0% | -1.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 47.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 7.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Benin's 47.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1%, 3.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 64.1% | 60.0% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.1% | 51.2% | 59.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.7% | 47.0% | 50.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More population data for Benin
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6566 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.95 million people (2100)
- Population density 351.08 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1997 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.48 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Benin?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Benin was 47.0% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 68.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.0% in 2024.
- How does Benin rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Benin ranks 5th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of people practicing open defecation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.