Share of people practicing open defecation in Niger
Niger: Share of people practicing open defecation was 66.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Niger, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of people practicing open defecation in Niger stood at 66.0%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Niger peaked at 81.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 66.0%, in 2024.
That places Niger 2nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of people practicing open defecation in Niger, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 81.1% | — |
| 2001 | 80.4% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 79.8% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 79.2% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 78.6% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 78.1% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 77.5% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 76.9% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 76.3% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 75.7% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 75.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 74.5% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 73.9% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 73.3% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 72.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 72.1% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 71.4% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 70.8% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 70.1% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 69.5% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 68.8% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 68.1% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 67.4% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 66.7% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 66.0% | -1.1% |
Niger compared with similar countries
- Niger's 66.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 4.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Niger's 66.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1%, 5.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 78.4% | 75.7% | 81.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.3% | 69.5% | 75.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.4% | 66.0% | 68.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Niger
More population data for Niger
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3834 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.6941 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3834 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.29 million people (2100)
- Population density 71.7 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4248 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 3.68 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Niger?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Niger was 66.0% 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 Niger?
- The highest recorded value was 81.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Niger?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.0% in 2024.
- How does Niger rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Niger ranks 2nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Niger?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Niger 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.