Proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union)

Northern Africa (African Union): Proportion of population practising open defecation was 0.426 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.426
Change on year
down 8.0%
Rank
52nd
of 61 groups
All-time high
8.41
in 2000
All-time low
0.426
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union), 2000–2024

024682000201220242000: 8.42001: 82002: 7.62003: 7.22004: 6.82005: 6.42006: 62007: 5.52008: 4.82009: 4.42010: 42011: 3.72012: 3.32013: 2.92014: 2.62015: 2.32016: 1.92017: 1.62018: 1.32019: 12020: 0.8282021: 0.642022: 0.4992023: 0.4632024: 0.426

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union) stood at 0.426. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 8.0% on the previous year and down 83.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union) peaked at 8.41 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.426, in 2024.

Northern Africa (African Union) ranks 52nd of 61 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union), year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation) in Northern Africa (African Union), 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 8.41
2001 8.03 -4.6%
2002 7.64 -4.8%
2003 7.25 -5.1%
2004 6.82 -5.9%
2005 6.38 -6.4%
2006 5.95 -6.7%
2007 5.53 -7.0%
2008 4.76 -13.9%
2009 4.38 -8.0%
2010 4.01 -8.5%
2011 3.65 -9.0%
2012 3.3 -9.7%
2013 2.94 -10.7%
2014 2.6 -11.7%
2015 2.27 -12.8%
2016 1.94 -14.3%
2017 1.62 -16.3%
2018 1.32 -19.0%
2019 1.04 -20.8%
2020 0.828 -20.6%
2021 0.6399 -22.7%
2022 0.4994 -22.0%
2023 0.4631 -7.3%
2024 0.426 -8.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 6.52 4.38 8.41 10
2010s 2.47 1.04 4.01 10
2020s 0.5713 0.426 0.828 5

Countries ranked near Northern Africa (African Union)

  1. 49 Cambodia 5.24 compare
  2. 50 Vanuatu 4.96 compare
  3. 51 Yemen 4.9 compare
  4. 52 Guinea 4.66 compare
  5. 53 Cameroon 4.44 compare
  6. 54 Mongolia 4.3 compare
  7. 55 Mali 3.87 compare

See the full ranking of 292 places →

More population data for Northern Africa (African Union)

All data for Northern Africa (African Union) →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union)?
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Northern Africa (African Union) was 0.426 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Northern Africa (African Union)?
The highest recorded value was 8.41 in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Northern Africa (African Union)?
The lowest recorded value was 0.426 in 2024.
How does Northern Africa (African Union) rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
Northern Africa (African Union) ranks 52nd out of 61 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Northern Africa (African Union)?
Over the last ten years it is down 83.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Northern Africa (African Union) 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 Northern Africa (African Union). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practising-open-defecation-sanitation/northern-africa-african-union/

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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