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

Western Africa (African Union): Proportion of population practising open defecation was 20.88 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
20.88
Change on year
down 2.0%
Rank
2nd
of 61 groups
All-time high
32.73
in 2000
All-time low
20.88
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

01020302000201220242000: 32.72001: 32.32002: 31.82003: 31.32004: 30.82005: 30.32006: 29.82007: 29.32008: 28.82009: 28.32010: 27.82011: 27.32012: 26.82013: 26.32014: 25.82015: 25.32016: 24.82017: 24.32018: 23.82019: 23.32020: 22.82021: 22.32022: 21.82023: 21.32024: 20.9

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population practising open defecation in Western Africa (African Union) stood at 20.88. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 19.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Western Africa (African Union) peaked at 32.73 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 20.88, in 2024.

Western Africa (African Union) ranks 2nd of 61 groups 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 Western Africa (African Union), year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation) in Western Africa (African Union), 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 32.73
2001 32.3 -1.3%
2002 31.8 -1.6%
2003 31.28 -1.6%
2004 30.77 -1.6%
2005 30.26 -1.6%
2006 29.76 -1.7%
2007 29.26 -1.7%
2008 28.76 -1.7%
2009 28.26 -1.7%
2010 27.76 -1.8%
2011 27.26 -1.8%
2012 26.76 -1.8%
2013 26.26 -1.9%
2014 25.76 -1.9%
2015 25.27 -1.9%
2016 24.77 -2.0%
2017 24.27 -2.0%
2018 23.77 -2.1%
2019 23.27 -2.1%
2020 22.78 -2.1%
2021 22.28 -2.2%
2022 21.79 -2.2%
2023 21.3 -2.2%
2024 20.88 -2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.52 28.26 32.73 10
2010s 25.52 23.27 27.76 10
2020s 21.8 20.88 22.78 5

Countries ranked near Western Africa (African Union)

  1. 1 Eritrea 67 compare
  2. 2 Niger 65.98 compare
  3. 3 South Sudan 62.8 compare
  4. 4 Chad 62.22 compare
  5. 5 Benin 47.04 compare

See the full ranking of 292 places →

More population data for Western Africa (African Union)

All data for Western Africa (African Union) →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Western Africa (African Union)?
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Western Africa (African Union) was 20.88 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Western Africa (African Union)?
The highest recorded value was 32.73 in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Western Africa (African Union)?
The lowest recorded value was 20.88 in 2024.
How does Western Africa (African Union) rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
Western Africa (African Union) ranks 2nd out of 61 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Western Africa (African Union)?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western 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 Western Africa (African Union). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practising-open-defecation-sanitation/western-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