Share of people practicing open defecation in Kenya
Kenya: Share of people practicing open defecation was 5.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 5.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 6.7% on the previous year and down 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Kenya peaked at 16.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2024.
That places Kenya 46th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.8% | 12.6% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.1% | 8.1% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8% | 5.9% | 7.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More population data for Kenya
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 183.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.40 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 604,257 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.21 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.96 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Kenya?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Kenya was 5.9% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 16.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2024.
- How does Kenya rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Kenya ranks 46th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.