Share of people practicing open defecation in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of people practicing open defecation was 11.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of people practicing open defecation in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of people practicing open defecation in Democratic Republic of Congo is 11.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 12.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 2000.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 30th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.9% | 10.5% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 11.4% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 11.7% | 12.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 5.98 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 5.98 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 517,404 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 5.98 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 6.05 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 5.31 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Democratic Republic of Congo was 11.7% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 2000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 30th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.