Share of people practicing open defecation in India
India: Share of people practicing open defecation was 6.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of people practicing open defecation in India, 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 India is 6.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 25.5% on the previous year and down 79.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in India peaked at 73.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2024.
India ranks 43rd of 232 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 60.1% | 47.2% | 73.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.0% | 19.7% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 6.7% | 17.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More population data for India
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 506.27 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 66.77 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 236,763 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.89 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in India?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in India was 6.7% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 73.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2024.
- How does India rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- India ranks 43rd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.