Share of people practicing open defecation in Tonga
Tonga: Share of people practicing open defecation was 0.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Tonga, 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 Tonga is 0.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Tonga peaked at 0.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2023.
That places Tonga 116th 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.
Share of people practicing open defecation in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.2% | — |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -5.8% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | +0.0% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 0.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3%, 32% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 0.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2%, 53% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 113 Bahamas 0.1% compare
- 114 Saudi Arabia 0.1% compare
- 115 North Macedonia 0.1% compare
- 117 Qatar 0.1% compare
- 118 Costa Rica 0.1% compare
- 119 Serbia 0.1% compare
More population data for Tonga
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5565 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.4068 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6,812 people (2100)
- Population density 163.72 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3365 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8047 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Tonga?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Tonga was 0.1% 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 Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2023.
- How does Tonga rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Tonga ranks 116th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga 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.