Share of people practicing open defecation in Uganda
Uganda: Share of people practicing open defecation was 3.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Uganda, 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 Uganda is 3.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.7% on the previous year and down 53.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Uganda peaked at 14.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2024.
Uganda ranks 57th of 232 countries on this measure, 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.0% | — |
| 2001 | 13.5% | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 13.1% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 12.1% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 11.6% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 11.2% | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 10.3% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 9.8% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 7.2% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | -9.7% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 3.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 24% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 3.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1%, 29% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.9% | 9.8% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 5.5% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.3% | 3.5% | 5.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More population data for Uganda
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2177 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.91 million people (2100)
- Population density 602.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.53 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Uganda?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Uganda was 3.5% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2024.
- How does Uganda rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Uganda ranks 57th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.