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.
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
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 58.64 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.51 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.11 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.11 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 62,052 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.11 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 4.16 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.89 children per women (2023)
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.