Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation) in Mauritania
Mauritania: Proportion of population practising open defecation was 16.19 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
16.19
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
22nd
of 231 countries
All-time high
59.11
in 2000
All-time low
16.19
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Mauritania, 2000–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Mauritania recorded 16.19 for proportion of population practising open defecation in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 8.7% on the previous year and down 50.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Mauritania peaked at 59.11 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.19, in 2024.
Mauritania ranks 22nd of 231 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 59.11 | — |
| 2001 | 57.3 | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 55.29 | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 53.3 | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 51.33 | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 49.38 | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 47.44 | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 45.52 | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 43.62 | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 41.74 | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 39.87 | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 38.03 | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 36.2 | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 34.4 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 32.62 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 30.86 | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 29.13 | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 27.43 | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 25.75 | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 24.1 | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 22.47 | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 20.86 | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 19.28 | -7.6% |
| 2023 | 17.72 | -8.1% |
| 2024 | 16.19 | -8.7% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 16.19 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.74, 2.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 16.19 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.15, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.4 | 41.74 | 59.11 | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.84 | 24.1 | 39.87 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3 | 16.19 | 22.47 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 19 Cote d'Ivoire 16.69 compare
- 20 Sudan 16.39 compare
- 21 Ethiopia 16.23 compare
- 23 Mozambique 16.04 compare
- 24 Djibouti 15.88 compare
- 25 Papua New Guinea 15.64 compare
More population data for Mauritania
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.8005 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.22 million people (2100)
- Population density 16.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1772 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.3851 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Mauritania?
- Proportion of population practising open defecation in Mauritania was 16.19 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 59.11 in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.19 in 2024.
- How does Mauritania rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
- Mauritania ranks 22nd out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania 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
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