Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 51.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Afghanistan, 2005–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 51.9% for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in 2024. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Afghanistan peaked at 51.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35.3%, in 2005.
That places Afghanistan 71st out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 35.3% | — |
| 2006 | 35.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 35.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 35.6% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 35.7% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 36.8% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 37.9% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 39.1% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 40.2% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 41.3% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 42.4% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 43.5% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 44.5% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 45.6% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 46.7% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 47.8% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 48.8% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 49.9% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 50.9% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 51.9% | +2.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 51.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 19.4%, 2.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 51.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 92.7%, 56% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.5% | 35.3% | 35.7% | 5 |
| 2010s | 41.8% | 36.8% | 46.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.9% | 47.8% | 51.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 68 Cape Verde 60.9% compare
- 69 Sao Tome and Principe 58.3% compare
- 70 Kenya 57.5% compare
- 72 Djibouti 50.7% compare
- 73 Dominican Republic 48.5% compare
- 74 Vanuatu 48.4% compare
More population data for Afghanistan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2412 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.03 million people (2100)
- Population density 199.65 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Afghanistan?
- Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Afghanistan was 51.9% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.3% in 2005.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Afghanistan ranks 71st out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.