Share of people practicing open defecation in Rwanda
Rwanda: Share of people practicing open defecation was 1.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 1.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 8.4% on the previous year and down 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Rwanda peaked at 3.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2024.
That places Rwanda 80th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More population data for Rwanda
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 1,329 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.01 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.65 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.65 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 114,368 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.65 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.7 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.5 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Rwanda?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Rwanda was 1.1% 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2024.
- How does Rwanda rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Rwanda ranks 80th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.