Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 5.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia, 2010–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia is 5.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia peaked at 8.7% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2024.
Ethiopia ranks 119th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.4% | — |
| 2011 | 8.4% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 8.7% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 8.2% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 7.1% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 6.8% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 6.5% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 6.2% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -5.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 5.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.4%, 30% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 5.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.2%, 26% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.2% | 7.3% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.5% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More population data for Ethiopia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23.22 million people (2100)
- Population density 325.45 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.7589 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia?
- Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Ethiopia was 5.9% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2024.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Ethiopia ranks 119th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.