Proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions)
Africa (WHO regions): Proportion of population practising open defecation was 14.9 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions), 2000–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions) is 14.9, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions) peaked at 29.71 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.9, in 2024.
That places Africa (WHO regions) 14th out of 61 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.71 | — |
| 2001 | 29.08 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 28.45 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 27.83 | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 27.21 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 26.58 | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 25.95 | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 25.32 | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 24.68 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 24.03 | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 23.39 | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 23.3 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 22.68 | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 22.05 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 21.4 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 20.74 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 20.09 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 19.3 | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 18.68 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 18.05 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 17.44 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 16.81 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 16.25 | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 15.43 | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 14.9 | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.88 | 24.03 | 29.71 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.97 | 18.05 | 23.39 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.17 | 14.9 | 17.44 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO regions)
- 11 Togo 32.19 compare
- 12 Burkina Faso 29.87 compare
- 13 Madagascar 27.01 compare
- 14 Angola 25.72 compare
- 15 Central African Republic 24.72 compare
- 16 Nigeria 17.96 compare
- 17 Ghana 17.79 compare
More population data for Africa (WHO regions)
- Total population by age 45,957 (2100)
- Total population by age 2,720 (2023)
- Proportion of population using of on-site sanitation facilities with 0.148 (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services 9.68 (2024)
- Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services 27.49 (2024)
- Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to 5.77 (2024)
- Proportion of population using on-site sanitation facilities with 21.57 (2024)
- Proportion of population using limited drinking water services 13.23 (2024)
- Proportion of population using improved drinking water sources 81.57 (2024)
- Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to 9.93 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions)?
- Proportion of population practising open defecation in Africa (WHO regions) was 14.9 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Africa (WHO regions)?
- The highest recorded value was 29.71 in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Africa (WHO regions)?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.9 in 2024.
- How does Africa (WHO regions) rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
- Africa (WHO regions) ranks 14th out of 61 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Africa (WHO regions)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa (WHO regions) data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).