Proportion of population practising open defecation in India

India: Proportion of population practising open defecation was 6.73 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6.73
Change on year
down 25.5%
World rank
43rd
of 231 countries
All-time high
73.15
in 2000
All-time low
6.73
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practising open defecation in India, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 73.22001: 70.32002: 67.32003: 64.42004: 61.52005: 58.62006: 55.82007: 52.92008: 50.12009: 47.22010: 44.42011: 41.62012: 38.82013: 36.12014: 33.32015: 30.62016: 27.82017: 25.12018: 22.42019: 19.72020: 172021: 14.32022: 11.72023: 92024: 6.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population practising open defecation in India is 6.73, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 25.5% on the previous year and down 79.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in India peaked at 73.15 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.73, in 2024.

That places India 43rd out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 60.13 47.25 73.15 10
2010s 31.99 19.71 44.43 10
2020s 11.75 6.73 17.01 5

Countries ranked near India

  1. 40 Marshall Islands 6.82 compare
  2. 41 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.76 compare
  3. 42 Myanmar 6.75 compare
  4. 44 Saint Lucia 6.19 compare
  5. 45 Senegal 6.14 compare
  6. 46 Kenya 5.91 compare

See the full ranking of 292 places →

More population data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practising open defecation in India?
Proportion of population practising open defecation in India was 6.73 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 73.15 in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 6.73 in 2024.
How does India rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
India ranks 43rd out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 79.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India 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.

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Proportion of population practising open defecation in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practising-open-defecation-sanitation/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
292 places, 6,980 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed