People using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: People using improved sanitation facilities was 37.25 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo is 37.25 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 37.25 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 24.08 million people, in 2000.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 35th of 232 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.08 million people | — |
| 2001 | 24.46 million people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 24.82 million people | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 25.15 million people | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 25.48 million people | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 25.85 million people | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 26.22 million people | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 26.58 million people | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 26.94 million people | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 27.32 million people | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 27.73 million people | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 28.17 million people | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 28.63 million people | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 29.11 million people | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 29.59 million people | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 30.05 million people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 30.59 million people | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 31.16 million people | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 31.65 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 32.09 million people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 32.54 million people | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 33.54 million people | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 34.56 million people | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 35.88 million people | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 37.25 million people | +3.8% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 37.25 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.05 million people, 2.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 37.25 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.64 million people, 4.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.69 million people | 24.08 million people | 27.32 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.88 million people | 27.73 million people | 32.09 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.75 million people | 32.54 million people | 37.25 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.5489 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- People using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo was 37.25 million people 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 people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 37.25 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.08 million people in 2000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for people using improved sanitation facilities?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 35th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 People using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.