Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Nepal
Nepal: Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 68.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Nepal, 2005–2024
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 Nepal is 68.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Nepal peaked at 68.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 46.0%, in 2005.
That places Nepal 64th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 46.0% | — |
| 2006 | 46.1% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 46.2% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 46.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 46.4% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 47.9% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 49.4% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 50.9% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 52.4% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 53.9% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 56.8% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 58.3% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 59.8% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 61.2% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 62.6% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 64.0% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 65.5% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 66.9% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 68.2% | +2.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 68.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.5%, 1.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 68.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 88.7%, 77% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.2% | 46.0% | 46.4% | 5 |
| 2010s | 54.6% | 47.9% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.4% | 62.6% | 68.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More population data for Nepal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0333 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.41 million people (2100)
- Population density 222.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Nepal?
- Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Nepal was 68.2% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 68.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.0% in 2005.
- How does Nepal rank for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Nepal ranks 64th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.