People using improved sanitation facilities in Nepal
Nepal: People using improved sanitation facilities was 29.05 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using improved sanitation facilities in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 29.05 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 52.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved sanitation facilities in Nepal peaked at 29.05 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.17 million people, in 2000.
Nepal ranks 43rd 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.17 million people | — |
| 2001 | 7.10 million people | +15.1% |
| 2002 | 8.02 million people | +12.9% |
| 2003 | 8.95 million people | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 9.88 million people | +10.5% |
| 2005 | 10.82 million people | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 11.76 million people | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 12.69 million people | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 13.62 million people | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 14.56 million people | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 15.49 million people | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 16.40 million people | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 17.28 million people | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 18.15 million people | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 19.04 million people | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 19.98 million people | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 20.91 million people | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 21.78 million people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 22.66 million people | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 23.76 million people | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 25.07 million people | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 26.36 million people | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 27.43 million people | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 28.26 million people | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 29.05 million people | +2.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 29.05 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.20 million people, 2.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 29.05 million people is above the median for South Asia, which is 26.05 million people, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.36 million people | 6.17 million people | 14.56 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.54 million people | 15.49 million people | 23.76 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.23 million people | 25.07 million people | 29.05 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More population data for Nepal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0333 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.41 million people (2100)
- Population density 222.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved sanitation facilities in Nepal?
- People using improved sanitation facilities in Nepal was 29.05 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 29.05 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.17 million people in 2000.
- How does Nepal rank for people using improved sanitation facilities?
- Nepal ranks 43rd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.