Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China
China: Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services was 38.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China stood at 38.1%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 72.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China peaked at 38.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2000.
That places China 62nd out of 100 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.3% | — |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 5.8% | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 6.7% | +15.0% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | +14.3% |
| 2005 | 8.7% | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 9.9% | +13.0% |
| 2007 | 11.1% | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 12.4% | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 16.8% | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 20.3% | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 22.1% | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 24.0% | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | +8.4% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 30.3% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 32.6% | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 34.0% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 35.3% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 36.7% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 38.1% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 38.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.7% | 5.3% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.4% | 15.3% | 32.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 34.0% | 38.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China?
- Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in China was 38.1% 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 urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2000.
- How does China rank for share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services?
- China ranks 62nd out of 100 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed in situ or transported and treated off-site.