Share of people practicing open defecation in Mali
Mali: Share of people practicing open defecation was 3.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Mali, 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 Mali is 3.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% on the previous year and down 59.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Mali peaked at 19.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2024.
That places Mali 55th 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.
Share of people practicing open defecation in Mali, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.4% | — |
| 2001 | 18.6% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 17.8% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 16.3% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 14.9% | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 12.1% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 11.4% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 10.8% | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 8.3% | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 7.7% | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 7.1% | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 6.5% | -8.0% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | -10.7% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -11.7% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 3.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 27% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 3.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1%, 32% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.0% | 12.8% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 6.5% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 3.9% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More population data for Mali
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5014 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.717 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.87 million people (2100)
- Population density 65.03 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4401 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.95 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Mali?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Mali was 3.9% 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 Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2024.
- How does Mali rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Mali ranks 55th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mali 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
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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.