Share of people practicing open defecation in Congo
Congo: Share of people practicing open defecation was 8.4% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Share of people practicing open defecation in Congo, 2000–2021
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Congo recorded 8.4% for share of people practicing open defecation in 2021.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Congo peaked at 8.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2001.
Congo ranks 34th of 232 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of people practicing open defecation in Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.2% | — |
| 2001 | 8.2% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 8.2% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 8.5% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 8.7% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 8.7% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 8.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 8.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 8.7% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 8.5% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | -1.2% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 8.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 8.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1%, 69% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.4% | 8.2% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 8.5% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 31 Afghanistan 11.2% compare
- 32 Micronesia (country) 9.5% compare
- 33 Laos 8.7% compare
- 35 Pakistan 8.2% compare
- 36 East Timor 7.9% compare
- 37 Guinea-Bissau 7.7% compare
More population data for Congo
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5095 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.51 million people (2100)
- Population density 58.64 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0471 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.17 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Congo?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Congo was 8.4% in 2021, 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2001.
- How does Congo rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Congo ranks 34th out of 232 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this 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.