Share of people practicing open defecation in Peru
Peru: Share of people practicing open defecation was 1.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of people practicing open defecation in Peru, 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 Peru stood at 1.9%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 23.8% on the previous year and down 76.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Peru peaked at 18.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2024.
That places Peru 70th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 | 14.9% | 11.5% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 5.0% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 1.9% | 4.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Peru
More population data for Peru
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Population density 29.82 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.97 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.97 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 6,742 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.97 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 1.93 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Peru?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Peru was 1.9% 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 Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2024.
- How does Peru rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Peru ranks 70th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Peru 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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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.