People using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea
South Korea: People using improved sanitation facilities was 51.58 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea, 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
South Korea recorded 51.58 million people for people using improved sanitation facilities in 2024.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea peaked at 51.75 million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 46.77 million people, in 2000.
That places South Korea 23rd out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 46.77 million people | — |
| 2001 | 47.04 million people | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 47.30 million people | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 47.51 million people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 47.70 million people | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 47.85 million people | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 48.01 million people | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 48.18 million people | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 48.35 million people | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 48.53 million people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 48.75 million people | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 49.10 million people | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 49.56 million people | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 50.03 million people | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 50.48 million people | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 50.92 million people | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 51.23 million people | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 51.41 million people | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 51.55 million people | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 51.67 million people | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 51.75 million people | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 51.73 million people | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 51.66 million people | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 51.62 million people | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 51.58 million people | -0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 51.58 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.05 million people, 16.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 51.58 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.22 million people, 42.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.72 million people | 46.77 million people | 48.53 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.47 million people | 48.75 million people | 51.67 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.67 million people | 51.58 million people | 51.75 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.1882 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea?
- People using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea was 51.58 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.75 million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.77 million people in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for people using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea 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.